NPFL: Bayelsa United’s Teibowei set to face IMC panel after controversial comments

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

Head coach of Bayelsa United, Dipreye Teibowei says he is ready to face the Interim Management Committee (IMC) after he was summoned for his comments on a Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) match.

“I just came to Abuja at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium. The only thing I remembered was that I wasn’t pleased with the officiating,” He told Brila FM.

“I can’t deny it because the goals scored were good but I wasn’t happy with the officiating.. What’s the business of the NPFL? I wasn’t talking against the NPFL. There was a clear penalty after an obstruction from behind on my player inside the 18-yard box.

“The player fell. I can even see my player raising his hands in protest to the referee but the referee ignored it. It was after the incident that they scored their goal. I am not happy. Even though the opponents scored a good goal but I am not happy with the officiating.

“It’s like the referee blew against one side. It’s very clear right from the beginning. Even from the beginning, they were screaming at us as if we are fighting against them. How can you say you want to improve the standard of the league and the referees are officiating in this way?

“I am not bothered about the goal but I am not happy with the match officiating. If we continue like this, football is not going anywhere. The standards will never go anywhere.” Tebowei said after last weekend’s game.

Bayelsa United were earlier sanctioned by the IMC and slammed with a fine of 1.75 million Naira plus a deduction of three points and three goals for assault on match officials in their home clash with Doma United on February 1.

As a result of this, Samson Siasia Stadium, the home ground of Bayelsa United has been closed indefinitely to fans.