Bendel Insurance challenge Enugu Rangers win over displaced crossbar

Bendel Insurance have appealed to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to overturn Enugu Rangers’ 1-0 victory, claiming the winning goal was scored after the crossbar had been moved out of position.

The rescheduled Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Matchday 9 fixture was played in Awka on Wednesday 4 November. According to ThisDay, Rangers scored during an attacking move after the goalframe defended by Bendel Insurance had visibly been displaced.

The victory returned the Flying Antelopes to the top of the NPFL table, but their result has now been placed under scrutiny. It came only days before another Rangers win was overshadowed by a Kwara United goal that was wrongly disallowed.

Bendel Insurance submitted a five-page petition to the NFF on 6 November after first raising the matter with the NPFL, ThisDay reported. The document was signed by club chairman Jarrett Tenebe.

The club argues that the Laws of the Game require the referee to stop play when a crossbar is displaced. On that basis, Bendel say the goal should not have been allowed to stand.

They are asking the federation to reconsider the NPFL’s decision, establish that the match officials breached the laws, cancel Rangers’ goal and amend the result to a 1-1 draw. That outcome would give both sides one point.

Bendel have also called for sanctions against Rangers, whom they regard as the home side responsible for stadium safety. Their other demands include the publication of the video and match officials’ reports, as well as an investigation into safety arrangements at the venue.

ThisDay also reported that Tenebe had threatened to withdraw Bendel Insurance from the league if the goal was upheld.

NPFL declines to change result

In a letter dated 6 November, NPFL chief operating officer Dr Ayo Abdulrahaman said the league had reviewed the match footage and acknowledged Bendel’s complaint.

The referee was referred to the NFF Referees Appointment Committee, but the NPFL refused to overturn the result. It cited regulations preventing completed matches from being annulled, together with the established practice of not reversing decisions made by referees during play.

Bendel’s appeal is therefore focused on whether the NFF will go further than the league. Although the principle that play should stop when a crossbar is displaced is clear, the question of the appropriate remedy remains more difficult.

The Kwara United incident provides a comparison. In that case, the NFF suspended the officials and ruled that the disallowed goal should have counted, but did not change the result. The action was taken against the officials rather than through an adjustment to the score.

A similar decision would leave Bendel with disciplinary action against the referee, rather than the point they are seeking. The outcome could have a significant impact at the top of the table: Bendel were among the clubs pursuing Rangers, and a draw would remove one point from the leaders while giving a direct rival an extra point.

The NFF’s appeal and disciplinary processes will now determine whether the result is changed.