Another drama ensued in the Nigeria Professional Football League Match day 8 rescheduled game between Bendel Insurance of Benin and Rangers International of Enugu as insecurity of match officials, sports247.ng reports
President of Nigeria Referee Association, Alhaji Tade Azeez through the Association Publicity Secretary had written a letter to the match officials not to show up for the game until Edo State Deputy Governor, Phillip Shuaibu write an undertaking assuring the lives of the match officials.
The letter signed by the Publicity Secretary, Kelechi Mejuobi reads; “I have been directed to inform Referees and Assessor appointed for this Midweek rescheduled Week 8 Match between Insurance FC of Benin and Rangers International of Enugu not to honour the said match in Benin for the sake of their lives.”
Funning enough and a comical relief of the whole scenario is that the two teams were at the University of Benin playing ground to play the rescheduled match only for them not to see the match officials.
Then, later the news flew in that the match will not hold.
However, sports247.ng learns that the Nigeria Referee Association President is tilted over the comments of the deputy governor after the Rivers United game where he allegedly said Edo might not be save for referees that come to do rubbish.
Our reliable sources also claim that the Association President required an undertaken from Edo state Deputy Governor Phillip Shuaibu written in the state letterhead, but the deputy governor said they will write but with Bendel Insurance letterhead because whatever interview he granted was as a player of the club while wearing the club jersey so he can’t use the government letterhead.
As if that was not enough, sports247.ng also scooped that top members of the NFF executive body, Amaju Pinnick and Sheu Dikko, asked NRA chairman to send officials but the Deputy Governor, Phillip Shuaibu still wanted his letter written Bendel Bendel letterhead Paper.
