FIFA confiscates Nigeria Football Supporters Club instruments
World Football Governing Body (FIFA) on Monday confiscated musical instruments belonging to the Nigeria Football Supporters Club (NFSC) claiming they constitute nuisance.
The over three hundred high-spirited Nigerian Supporters Club members were in a colourful procession after they alighted from their luxurious buses about 500 metres to the stadium and were joined by Brazilians who were chanting ‘Nigeria’ and dancing to the rhythmic and gyrating display by the Dr Rafiu Ladipo-led team.
FIFA officials stopped members of the club from entering the Arena da Baixada Stadium at Curitiba in Brazil that hosted the Super Eagles and the Iranian national team.
The confiscation saga ensued when members of the club got to the entrance and were told by security personnel that FIFA had banned musical instruments, and that the drums and trumpets be kept at a store if members must go in.
At this point some smart trumpeters had gone in with their trumpets but the drums were not allowed in as security personnel confiscated them.
The World football Governing Body had placed security personnel to refuse persons with any musical instruments entry into the stadium owing to the fact that it constitutes noise. As soon as the game started, the few trumpeters played at the admiration of fans but in a few minutes time, FIFA security officials came threatening to seize the instruments which were eventually hidden from them.
The President General of the Club, Dr Rafiu Ladipo who tried to explain to the officials said the club was not officially informed by FIFA.
According to him “we have been going to other countries we have played our instruments during other international tournaments and we are disciplined people. We did not get any notice prior to this ban.
“We came here to support our darling team with our musical instruments, we don’t make troubles.
“We are here to make the arena glamorous. FIFA did not write us officially and we see it as victimisation. I will write to FIFA for explanation.”
One of the Security Personnel while trying to explain further said “the directive is from FIFA and we will not allow any playing of instruments”.
Several security personnel came to the Supporters Club stand but were however ignored by members who turned the stadium seats to drums.
Each match ticket costs 90 US dollars