We want our point restored, not only referee's sanction, says Abia Warriors Chairman

Posted : 27 March 2024

John Obuh, the Chairman of Abia Warriors FC in Umuahia, has strongly demanded justice regarding their 'inexplicable' 2-1 defeat at Katsina United on Saturday, March 23, 2024.

Obuh stated that his team values more the one point they legitimately worked for and deservedly earned in the game rather than the suspension of the referee by the Referees Committee of the NFF.

The NPFL match Day 26 came to a disgraceful end after the referee inexplicably disallowed Abia Warriors' late goal that would have ended the game at a 2-2 final scoreline.

Reports suggest that the referee, Abdulmalik Abdulmalik, had signaled for a goal and pointed to the center circle. However, it was alleged that while the ball was about to be restarted, the match commissioner called the referee, and after their discussion, the referee disallowed the goal.

Incensed by referee Abdulmalik's decision to overturn the goal after initially acknowledging it, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Refereeing Development Committee sanctioned Abdulmalik on Monday, stepping him down from officiating NPFL games until further notice.

In the letter dated March 24, 2024, and signed by Mohammed Areemu, its secretary for the Chairman, NFF Refereeing Development Committee, Abdulmalik was suspended and will take no further part in NPFL matches officiating until further notice.

The Committee noted that Abdulmalik's actions in the game brought the sport into disrepute.

"Considering your decisions that adversely affect not only the outcome of the match between Katsina United FC and Abia Warriors FC played on Sunday, March 24, 2024, in Katsina, but also that your actions equally bring the sport to disrepute, I am directed to inform you that you have been suspended from the league until further notice," reads Abdulmalik's suspension letter.

However, Abia Warriors Chairman, John Obuh, while reacting to referee Abdulmalik's suspension, noted that what was important and which would serve as the 'fairest justice' was for the one point denied his team in the game as a result of the referee's decision to be restored to his club.

Obuh stated that since it is clear there was a miscarriage of justice against his club during the game by the referee, the best course of action would be to restore the point denied his team during the game.

"Stepping down the referee isn't my concern. Now it's clear we were wrongfully denied a point in the game.

"This fact has been established. So, what's important to us is to have the point restored for us," demanded Obuh, a former U17 Golden Eaglets and later U20 Flying Eagles Coach.

We want our point restored, not only referee's sanction, says Abia Warriors Chairman

ADD A COMMENT :

Hot Topics