Bendel Insurance threaten to pull out from Nigeria Premier Football League

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

Bendel Insurance has threatened to withdraw from the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) side following decision to overturn the sanctions against Remo Stars by the Nigeria Football Federation panel.

The threats to withdraw from the NPFL comes in the wake of the decision of the Nigeria Football Federation Disciplinary Committee to reverse the Interim Management Committee (IMC) sanctions of deducting three points and three goals from Remo Stars.

On 6 April, IMC had deducted three points and three goals from Remo Stars after an assault and intimidation on the match referee against Gombe United which led to the disruption of the game at halftime.

“Bendel Insurance is going to be having its board meeting on Tuesday. Before the board meeting, we had the reason to write a letter to the NFF of our intention to withdraw from the league,” Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shuaibu told Channels Television (TV) on Sunday.

“For us, the IMC has done a good job. The league has been very stable. It’s about confidence in our players for us. We are not just interested in winning. It’s not all about Bendel Insurance winning the league or not. It’s about Nigeria winning the Nations Cup, and World Cup, and winning all international engagements.

“The only way we can achieve that is when we have a league in Nigeria where the players can express themselves. When we have a league in Nigeria where the referees officiate the game according to the rules.

“When you can no longer guarantee the safety of the referee, I can not allow my players to go and play because the security of my players will not be guaranteed.

“Remo Stars is at it again. We had a player in Bendel Insurance that can no longer play football because of the incident that happened in Ikenne. Our number nine had an injury on his head. Benjamin, our number five, anytime you see him, check the left side of the ear, there is a stitch about four stitches, and was recently invited to the U-23.

“We don’t want hooliganism in sports. IMC has done very well. The fear of point deductions and being banned is now the beginning of wisdom for clubs. If this decision is not reversed, Bendel Insurance will withdraw from the league.”

NFF Disciplinary Committee last week reversed the order deducting 3 points and 3 goals from the accumulated points/goals of Remo Stars FC for the assault of a match official.

The panel also reversed the fine of two hundred and fifty thousand naira (N250,000.00) only being compensatory payment to the assaulted Centre Referee, Ukah Ndubuisi.

And also set aside an order for the immediate prosecution of Mr. Ekene Abubakar Adams despite being found guilty of carrying out an assault of a match official.

Newly promoted Insurance are on a 16-match unbeaten streak and a win away from sealing their NPFL Super Six qualification.