FOR inciting the fans against match officials during a football match at the ongoing National Sports Festival, the Chairman of Gombe State Sports Commission has been banned by the Main Organising Committee (MOC) of the festival.

The news of the ban was broken Monday by the MOC Secretary, Abba Yola, while speaking with journalists on the progress made so far at the Eko 2012 Games.

Trouble started midway into the football match between Gombe and Kwara State at the Agege Stadium on Sunday. Gombe was said to be leading in the game when disagreement broke out and some soldiers at the venue capitalised on that to manhandle some fans and spectators at the venue.

Some officials of Gombe team were equally beaten up by the soldiers. The MOC said yesterday that it was able to establish that the Gombe Sports Commission boss, identified only as Faruk, instigated the fans against the match officials.

"I am sure this ban handed to Gombe Sports Commission’s chairman will serve as a lesson to others" Yola said. "He was found guilty of instigating the fans against match officials during a football match on Sunday."