Wednesday, 9 April 2014

Arinze: Nigerian referees are killing the game

It is no longer a new thing that Sapele has become a ground for dubious calls by referees at the on-going Globacom Nigeria Premier League season. No wonder  Sharks head coach Gbenga Ogunbote, Nasarawa United central defender Babatunde Solomon and recently Obioma Arinze have all cried foul as to the level of bad officiating exhibited by the men in black at the adopted home ground of Bayelsa United.


Futball Galore Magazine caught up with Obioma Arinze after Elkanemi Warriors fell victims of the show of disgrace by the match referee in a week 5 League match which ended 1-1 on Sunday.

‘’There was real drama. Can you imagine the centre referee instructed his assistant to drop his flag just to allow an offside goal stand?

 ‘’It all started when the added time was due and Mr Ajao Ibrahim from Kwara State refused to end the game. In the dying moments a cross was made and one of Bayelsa United players was offside – the assistant referee 2 (Mr O Gbenga) raised the flag, so the game was disrupted by the incident.

 ‘’The ‘stage fiasco’ performed on Sunday was so disgraceful I must confess. I was so disappointed as the whole drama went on. It was so pathetic,’’ the lanky striker disclosed .

The former Nembe City forward urged the Nigeria Football Federation and the League Management Company to look into the level of officiating in the Premier League.

 ‘’The NFF and LMC have been good to us all with some good policies they have put in place to make the league one of the best in the world, but they must also curb the excesses of some match officials,’’ he added.

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