EXAMINING THE LEVEL OF STADIUM SECURITY AND SAFETY DURING NIGERIA PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE MATCHES

The purpose of this study was to examine the level of stadium security and safety employed during Nigeria Professional Football League Matches; this is due to the fact that security during the NPFL seems to be ineffective with reports of violence, assaults and pandemonium springing up indiscriminately. A descriptive survey research design was utilized with ten (10) stadia that participated in the NPFL 2018/2019 football league season and their managers being the respondents. Seven (7) security parameters were identified including entry and exit systems, Venue Operations Centre (VOC), Closed Circuit Television (CCTV), Protection of the field of play, public announcer room, stewards’ management and police attendance. Results indicated that majority of the security measures to ensure spectator safety are not followed as recommended by FIFA and the green guide; with CCTV and VOC non-existent in almost all the stadia in the study. Results are discussed in relation to previous studies.