Guardian

THE Vice Chairman of Warri Wolves FC, Kenneth Nwomucha, has called on the League Management Company (LMC) to invoke the relevant rules governing the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) on Akwa United following an alleged attack on the centre referee by fans suspected to be supporters of the Uyo team in a league match on Wednesday.

The Warri side was trailing 0-2 in the first half, but the match was abandoned after supporters of Akwa United allegedly attacked the centre referee, Henry Ogunyanmodi from Ondo State, in the dressing room during the break for what they termed as ‘questionable calls.’

Nwomucha, who spoke with The Guardian Friday through the club Media Officer, Etu Moses, on their way from the match venue, described as barbaric the behaviour of supporters of Akwa United. He urged the LMC to invoke Article 3.7, sub section 1,3, and 3, which says that if fans of any team attacked the officiating officials leading to abandonment of any match, the club should be made to pay a fine of N5 million and forfeit the three points at stake.

“I have never seen this type of thing in my life. A goal was scored with a player of Akwa United using his hand to push the ball into our net and the referee accepted it. At half time, you said you were not satisfied and went on to beat him. This is very bad and will not augur well for our league,” Nwomucha stated.

The Warri Wolves official also condemned the security arrangement at the Stadium. “I started praying when I noticed that two third of the Police officers present at the stadium were women. They were without weapons and were helpless when trouble started,” he said.

Meanwhile, the General Manager of Dolphins of Port Harcourt, Dumbor Awanen, says the refereeing he saw in Katsina Ala, where his team met Lobi Stars on Wednesday, is the worst since he joined the club more than two seasons ago.

Dolphins lost that game 1-0 to Lobi Stars, after a 94th minute penalty was awarded to the host.

“It was just too bad and the LMC must come out and tell us what plans they have for the league because if this continues then we are heading for disaster,” Awanen said.

According to Awanen, a Lobi Stars’ striker ran into a Dolphins defender, Festus Austin in the 70th minute and rather than call a foul against the Lobi player, a penalty was awarded against his team.

“Our goalkeeper, Austin Brown saved that but the referee still had other plans in his sinister mind and he soon awarded another one in more bizarre circumstances.

“The referee added seven minutes at the end and in the 4th minute of added time, another Lobi striker ran into our defensive midfielder, Seidu Abuu, injuring him in the process, but the referee, Mammada Aminu from Zamfara State, called a penalty against my team rather than penalize the Lobi player.

“This is the same Lobi Stars team that beat us 2-0 in Port Harcourt last season and the heavens did not fall. I know people will say Nigerian League clubs always complain about the referee when they lose, but this is different,” he said.