A NPFL referee who officiated the Remo Stars vs Bendel Insurance match on Sunday January 20, was left with a broken head after he was attacked by a supporter of the home side.
The match which was played at the Gateway International Stadium, Sagamu ended 1-1.
According to reports, the home supporters were not impressed with the way the game was officiated. The referee identified as Bethel Nwanesi was said to have disallowed the home team – Remo Stars, a goal in the 88th minute which got the fans upset.
Immediately the referee blew the whistle signifying the end of the match, one of the Remo stars fans, stormed the pitch and attacked Nwanesi, giving him a cut on his head.
Meanwhile Remo Stars Football Club management has promised to fish out those involved in that barbaric act of injuring the referee. The club said this in a statement released by the team’s media officer, Oladimeji Oshode.
“A manhunt has started immediately as the management of the club and the Nigeria Police Force Sagamu division are working closely to ensure that the intruder is brought to book to face the consequences of his actions.
“We totally regret and condemn this act as we don’t encourage violence in football.
The management, however, frowned at the center referee call by disallowing the 88th-minute goal by Remo against Bendel Insurance.
“In the same vein of condemning this act, we would also like to indicate that the centre referee Bethel Nwanesi calls all through the game were questionable and in the 88th minute a good goal was scored, which would have been the winning goal, was ruled offside and disallowed by the referee which caused an uproar among the fans.
“This of course is no reason why anyone should get hurt, we have lost games at home in the past against Plateau United, Enyimba FC, MFM FC, Rivers United without witnessing such violence” the statement read.
