Gateway United goalkeeper, Araromi Ibukun has disclosed that the center referee in charge of Thursday’s match against Bendel Insurance in Benin allegedly told him during the match that Insurance must win the match by any means, following the controversial penalty goal awarded to The Benin Arsenal.
Bendel Insurance won a 4-0 against Gateway United in the Week 18 of the Nigeria National League yesterday, in an encounter marred by controversies over the questionable conduct of the center referee during the match.
The major talking point of the match was the opening goal of Bendel Insurance in the encounter. Sodje Stephen tapped the ball from Gateway United’s goalkeeper’s penalty save into the net, Albeit the goal shouldn’t have stood as he was in the 18-yard box before the spot-kick was played.
Protest erupted from Gateway United’s bench with their players and officials challenging the validity of the goal but the center referee awarded the goal and continued the game.
Speaking on the conduct of the referee during the encounter, Gateway United goalkeeper, Araromi Ibukun disclosed on a WhatsApp group on Friday that the center referee allegedly told him during the game that Bendel Insurance must win the match at all cost and there is nothing anybody can do about it.
“Smile…..d referee was telling me on d field of play that there’s nothing we can do insurance must-win,” the WhatsApp message read.
Ibukun also said that he was demoralized immediately when the referee uttered the statement.
“I swear to God who made me I just give up immediately d referee utter d statement… Cuz after that he was cutting all our moves,” he said.
In 2022, Nigeria football is still suffering from the epidemic of bad officiating that has been rocking matches at almost every level of football in the country.
The poor level of officiating in Nigerian leagues has led to the fewer representation of Nigerian match officials in international competitions both at the club football and national teams level.
