Bendel Insurance Mulls Withdrawal From NPFL
Abdulazeez Abdulwahab
BENDEL Insurance FC is considering playing no further role in the ongoing 2022/23 Nigeria Premier Football League in protest against the decision of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Disciplinary Committee which discountenanced the decision of the Interim Management Committee (IMC) that had earlier deducted 3 points and 3 goals from Remo Stars, among other penalties for misconduct.
The NFF Disciplinary Committee decision lifts Remo Stars from 6th position to 5th position tied on 24 points alongside Plateau United.
But Bendel Insurance, which presently tops Group A, wouldn’t have any of it. Deputy Governor of Edo State, Comrade Philip Shaib, while speaking on Channels Sports on Sunday said the board of Bendel Insurance has scheduled a meeting for Tuesday 2nd May where the reversal of the penalty handed down to Remo Stars would be discussed and a decision as to the continued participation of Bendel Insurance in the Nigeria first-tier league will be taken.
“We will decide on Tuesday whether to continue to feature in the league or not. The action of the NFF Disciplinary Committee harms the perception of players and even the watching public.
“We want a local league that is stable, that players and Nigerians can be proud of. A league that referees will be free to officiate and not have to look at their backs before deciding on the pitch.
“IMC is doing well enough and some level of sanity is being restored to the league until now. We are in solidarity not because with the restoration of the points our position as the leader of the group is threatened, no! But we must have the courage to call a spade by its name. It isn’t the first time Remo Stars would toe this violent path. Remember the attack on some of our players? One of the players still has stitches on his head to date. I think we must put a stop to this.
“I wouldn’t know what the NFF Disciplinary Committee meant by a friendly tap in a restricted area. Match officials were assaulted and that is the simple truth, no point trying to hide the truth”, Comrade Shaib said.
Eighteen-Eleven Media recalls that the NFF Disciplinary Committee reversed most of the punitive decisions meted out on Remo Stars sequel to the alleged assault of Ndubuisi Ukah, the referee, in the dressing room which led to the disruption of the NPFL game against Gombe United.
However, NFF Disciplinary Committee disagreed with the IMC verdict on Remo Stars and reinstated Remo Stars 3 points and 3 goals deduction.
Below are the details of the NFF decisions.
In view of the above findings, the Committee decides as follows:
The NFF Disciplinary Committee hereby disagrees with the Interim Management Committee (IMC) in Paragraph 1 of its findings as contained in the Summary Jurisdiction Notice Form 16 that there was no adequate security during the match which resulted in an assault on the match official.
The Committee disagrees with the IMC in paragraph 2 of its findings as contained in the Summary Jurisdiction Notice Form 16 to the extent that the encroachment of unauthorised persons into the restricted area was not the basis of the Centre Referee’s decision not to continue with the match after the first half, as there was no assault meted on the Centre Referee.
The Committee maintains its position in Paragraphs 1 and 2 above and therefore disagrees with the IMC in Paragraphs 3 of its finding as contained in the Summary Jurisdiction Notice Form 16.
The Committee agrees with the IMC in Paragraph 4 of its finding as contained in the Summary Jurisdiction Notice only to the extent that Remo Stars FC failed to ensure the restriction of access to unauthorised persons to restricted areas, particularly, the match officials’ Dressing Room, but there was no established evidence of assault on any match official as claimed.
The fine of Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N500,000.00) only, imposed on Remo Stars FC for failure to provide adequate security for the match official before, during and after the match is hereby set aside.
The Committee affirms the fine of Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N500,000.00) only, imposed on Remo Stars FC for failure to ensure the restriction of access by unauthorised persons, with particular reference to the case of Mr Ekene.
The order deducting 3 points and 3 goals from the accumulated points/goals of Remo Stars FC for the assault of a match official is hereby set aside.
The fine of Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N250,000.00) only being compensatory payment to the assaulted Centre Referee, Ukah Ndubuisi is hereby set aside.
An order for the immediate prosecution of Mr Ekene Abubakar Adams for carrying out the assault of a match official is hereby set aside.
An order banning Mr Ekene Abubakar Adams from all NPFL-related activities for the rest of the season is hereby affirmed.
That the above decisions are without prejudice to the right of appeal.
In attendance: Barr. J.B. C. Obikwelu (Chairman), Bar. A.l. Abdulrahman (Vice-chairman), Barr. Ibrahim Mukhtar (Member), Barr. ‘Wole Ademoyegun (Member), Barr. Bello Galadi (Member) and Queen W. Otarakpo, Esq.
(Secretary).
Eighteen-Eleven Media
