An Ado-Ekiti Magistrates’ Court has sentenced a 22-year-old footballer, Adeoye Martins, to one year in prison for stabbing a fellow player with a broken bottle during a football match in Ekiti State.
The incident, which happened during a dispute on the football field, left the victim with injuries to his face and led to Martins being prosecuted for assault and conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace.
Delivering judgment on Tuesday, Magistrate Olatomiwa Daramola found Martins guilty on the two-count charge after considering the evidence presented before the court.
The court sentenced the footballer to one year imprisonment on the count of assault and one month imprisonment on the count of breach of peace.
However, the court gave the convict the option of paying a fine of N5,000 on the assault charge and N2,000 on the breach of peace charge.
Martins was first arraigned before the court on December 15, 2025, after he was charged with assault and breach of peace.
At the time of his arraignment, he pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The court subsequently granted him bail in the sum of N50,000 with one surety in the same amount while the trial continued.
During the hearing, the prosecution, led by Inspector Ayodeji Aina, told the court that the incident occurred on December 8, 2025, at about 4 p.m. at the Ben Folarin Football Pitch in the Omisanjana area of Ado-Ekiti.
According to the prosecutor, Martins, who plays for White Horse FC, became involved in an argument with an opposing player, Saheed Abdulazeez of Jaydyn FC, during a football game.
The disagreement later turned violent when Martins allegedly picked up a broken bottle and stabbed Abdulazeez on the right cheek.
The prosecutor told the court that the attack caused injuries to the victim and disrupted peace at the football ground.
He added that Martins also behaved in a manner capable of causing a breach of public peace.
Inspector Aina informed the court that the offences were contrary to Sections 186 and 181(d) of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021.
To prove the case, the prosecution called two witnesses who gave evidence before the court.
The prosecutor also tendered Martins’ statement, which was admitted as part of the evidence during the trial.
After reviewing the testimonies and exhibits presented by the prosecution, Magistrate Daramola held that the evidence established the charges against the defendant beyond reasonable doubt.
The court therefore convicted Martins on both counts and imposed the sentences accordingly.
The case has drawn attention to the growing concern over violence during local football competitions.
Football is one of the most popular sports in Nigeria, with community tournaments serving as a platform for young players to showcase their talents and attract the attention of professional clubs.
However, disputes during matches have occasionally resulted in violent confrontations involving players, supporters and match officials.
Sports administrators and security experts have repeatedly called for stricter discipline at grassroots competitions, urging organisers to enforce the rules of the game and ensure that adequate security is provided during matches.
They have also encouraged players to resolve disagreements through match officials instead of resorting to violence.
The conviction also highlights the role of the courts in addressing acts of violence and ensuring that offenders are held accountable, regardless of where such incidents occur.
Residents in Ado-Ekiti have expressed concern over the incident, describing it as unfortunate and avoidable.
The judgment is expected to reinforce calls for improved discipline in grassroots football, where many young athletes begin their careers before moving to higher levels of competition.
For now, the court’s decision brings to a close a case that started with what should have been a routine football match but ended in a criminal prosecution after a disagreement turned violent.