Football enthusiasts say they are in support of the League Management Company’s (LMC) decision on the abandoned 2016/2017 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) opening match between Kano Pillars and FC IfeanyiUbah.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the match was abandoned after 48 minutes following perceived controversial calls by the referee at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano.
The Anambra warriors refused to continue with the match, alleging that their late goal in the first half was disallowed by the referee, Folusho Ajayi.
In reaction to the development, the league Management Company (LMC) on Monday slammed a fine of N9.1 million on FC IfeanyiUbah among other penalties.
The LMC also directed that Ajayi be suspended pending investigations.
FC IfeanyiUbah has also given its Team Manager, a four-match suspension for deciding to abandon the match without due consultation.
In Awka, an ex-Rangers International player, Arthur Ebunam, said he supported the LMC’s decision, noting that the standard of the game must be upheld in spite of any perceived injustice.
Ebunam, however, said that the referees association must ensure that their members were of high moral standards as they were in delicate position to make or mar the game.
“The LMC is right; FC IfeanyiUbah should not have abandoned the game, granted that referees make mistakes knowingly or unknowingly all over the world.
“You don’t abandon a game that is already in play because it is not about you, it about the millions who have interest in it across the continent even the world.
“The option was to continue the game and protest afterwards with all the evidence that you have.
“The behaviour was just unprofessional and the referees that have shown not to be above board should be stopped from spoiling the game for us, I think I support the decision of the LMC,’’ he said.
Another enthusiast, Nnamdi Obi, said the two-way disciplinary action taken by the LMC was welcome but lamented the enormity of the fine slammed of FC IfeanyiUbah.
Obi wondered what action was taken against SuperSports which suspended broadcast in the thick of the disagreement and denied fans the opportunity of seeing what was going on.
“I support that they should be penalised but to me, N9.1 million is too much, the referee just bungled the game.
“The other thing is that SuperSports stopped transmitting so we did not really know what happed afterwards; the LMC should not let them go like that because I believe there was an agreement,’’ he said.
On his part, the President of Ikpeazu Redoubtable of Onitsha, Odi Ikpeazu, said it was sad that there was obvious corruption in football but blamed it on the society.
Ikpeazu said had been a victim of such perceived injustice but did not abandon the game.
“I am not to say if I align myself with the LMC or not but the rules of the game must be observed.
“The referees are the final arbiter in any game no matter how bad you feel, I am a victim of similar situation during the 2015 FA Cup in Anambra, I was fined and yet I did not abandon the game.
“The decision to end the game before time is unpardonable, only the referee decides what a penalty and goal is.
“We are aware of the corruption in football but I doubt if referees could be angelic in judging the corruption in the system,’’ he said.
On his part, sports analyst and editor of FIDES newspapers, Awka, Jude Atupulazi, said referees should be cautioned against spoiling matches with controversial calls.
Atupulazi said though officials had discretionary powers it should not be exercised to the detriment of the growth of football.
“The referee erred, though she has discretionary powers, such discretion should have made her await the outcome of the kick she awarded, especially after arranging the defence wall and blowing for the kick to be taken.
“Besides, the kick had been taken before she blew for half time; again the added time hadn’t elapsed. It was no surprise that the NFL has condemned her decision and written a protest letter to LMC against the female official,’’ he said.
Meanwhile, feelers from Nnewi indicate that FC IfeanyiUbah may not protest the decision of the LMC.
The source said the team was focused on executing their second league game against MFM of Lagos at the FC IfeanyiUbah Stadium, Nnewi. (NAN)