Bendel Insurance have been sanctioned for multiple breaches of the NPFL Framework & Rules following their Matchday 32 fixture against Plateau United on Saturday, March 28, 2026, at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City.
The club was found guilty of failing to provide adequate and effective security, which led to unauthorized individuals gaining access to restricted areas. Additionally, supporters of Bendel Insurance were cited for unsporting behaviour capable of bringing the game into disrepute.
Further charges revealed that fans acted improperly, including the harassment of match officials after the game. The situation escalated as officials were reportedly held hostage for 40 minutes.
Head coach Kennedy Boboye was also penalized for gross misconduct toward a match official, an act deemed contrary to the principles of fair play and discipline.
As a result of these infractions, Bendel Insurance have been fined a total of ₦5 million—₦2 million for inadequate security, ₦1 million for supporter misconduct, and ₦2 million for the post-match incident involving officials.
Boboye has been fined ₦2 million and handed a 17-match suspension.
In addition, the Benin City club will play their next three home matches behind closed doors as part of the disciplinary measures.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
