Referee Assault: Bayelsa United appeals IMC sanction, start proceedings against assailant

By Wale Mustapha

Bayelsa United have confirmd that it will appeal sanctions placed on them by the Interim Management Committee IMC following an alleged assault of an assistant referee during their match against Doma United at the Samson Siasia Stadium on Wednesday, February 1.2023, costing them a three points and three goals deduction.

In a statement through club’s media officer, Hananeel Jackson confirmed the Yenegoa based outfit’s decision to appeal against the breaches of Rule B8:21, C11 and B13:52 contrary to the allegation that the home team provided funds to the Bayelsa State Football Association to ensure that security were on ground and other related logistics.

“The State FA provided 35 police officers for the purpose of ensuring and enhanced security at the stadium, the number was much more than the 30 which they earlier agreed to by both teams in the pre match meeting,” the club explained via the statement.

“Preliminary report by the Nigeria Police Force that were on ground indicated that the assault on the match official, Assistant Referee Two, Ojeleye Ebenezer was the action of a hoodlum who deceitfully gained access to the area pretending to be a local aide/guide of visiting teams.”

Enefiok Samuel had given the visitors from Gombe the lead on the brink of half time but Osoboh Osahon’s strike eight minutes after the restart forced the teams to share the spoils in Yenagoa a week ago.

The club further explained that: “the hoodlum accompanied the visiting team to the pre-match meetings and to the stadium for the match, hence reasonably convinced everyone that he was rendering assistance to them, thereby hiding his intent and purpose.

“The assailant Mr. Joseph Zidougha Odede popularly known as One Man Riot is no way related to Bayelsa United FC and has never being a member of the supporters clubs whose dress code is navy blue shirt and white as seen in the attached video on the appeal.

“Mr. Odede’s presence for the ungodly act is totally unknown to Bayelsa United FC, and therefore can never be interpreted as a fan or agent of the definition/interpretation of the framework and rules of the NPFL.

“Furthermore, the said assailant has gained notoriety within the Nigerian football family as a lousy, noisy blabber that is generally known to be a fan of no club, but is only ready to do the bidding of any club that procures him or entices him with a gift or cash.

“The hooligan got past the security personnel who believes that he rendered assistance to visiting teams at the time players and officials trooped off the pitch to the dressing room at the end of match when the incident occurred.

“The breach of security that led to the assault on a match official cannot be justifiably blamed on Bayelsa United FC as the intention of the assailant was criminally disguised. It would therefore be against the spirit of natural justice and fairness to punish Bayelsa United for a breach it has not been found wanting.”

The statement continued: “However, the Prosperity Boys aided by men of the Nigerian Police succeeded in apprehending the assailant with attached pictures as evidence of his arrest, perfecting all necessary processes of his criminal act at the relevant court.

“Bayelsa United, pursuant to provision of Rule E of Framework and Rules of the Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL prayed that One Million Naira 1,000,000 awarded against them on the grounds of failure to provide adequate security, be set aside.

“They also asked that the fine of Five Hundred Thousand Naira N500,000 awarded against them on grounds of failure to ensure the restriction of access to unauthorized persons to all areas, be also set aside. The order deducting 3 points and three goals from the accumulated points/goals of Bayelsa united for the assault of match official be vacated in the interest of fairness and equity.

“The fine of Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira, N250,00, as compensatory payment for the assault on Ojeleye Ebenezer be reviewed downwards, as the team is willing to compensate for the physical abuse suffered by the official at the stadium. Also the order closing the Samson Siasia Stadium to fans indefinitely be vacated or reviewed.”