Benin fans go berserk, disrupt Insurance-3SC cracker      Posted Monday,May11 2009

The Week 27 National League game between Bendel Insurance and Shooting Stars was abandoned last Saturday at the Ogbe Stadium when unruly fans of the home side pounced on match officials, opposing players and rival fans over what they perceived as ‘biased officiating.’

Shooting Stars’ striker Meshack Chukwubuikem was amongst the victims as he was head-butted by one of the supporters.

The game was tied at 1-1 with just six minutes left on the clock when fans of Insurance rushed into the pitch and beat the living daylights out of the centre referee and his two assistants. The match officials were later rushed to the hospital.  

This came as a result of a disallowed ‘goal’ by Insurance striker Henry Odion, although the fans  had not reacted in a similar manner when the ref earlier over-ruled a ‘legitimate’ goal by 3SC striker Timothy Idogbe   

Shooting Stars shot into the lead midway into the first half through new-signing Sheriff Olusola, but Insurance leveled up before half time when Best Akpoghuma took advantage of a leak in 3SC’s defence.   

In an action-packed second stanza of the game, both teams gave their best and just when it looked like the goals would finally come, the fans went berserk. It’s not the first time such an incident is happening inside the arena.

Ogbe Stadium is notorious for fan violence and several times in the past Bendel Insurance had suffered banishment due to fan insurgence. The latest imbroglio is likely to attract another stiff penalty from the league body.

Shooting Stars General Manager Mutiu Adepoju said he was satisfied with his team’s performance, though he could not fathom why rival supporters disrupted the party.

“For me it was a good game, and the officiating was okay, although I can’t understand why Timothy’s goal was disallowed.

“However, let me say I was disappointed with the violent reaction of Benin fans. I am just happy none of our players and officials was seriously hurt,” he said.

Meanwhile, as both parties await the league board’s decision on the abandoned match, Insurance Chief Coach Godwin Izilein has lashed out at the match officials over what he branded ‘a terrible show of shame by the referees association.’ “I can’t believe this is still happening in modern-day Nigerian football. “We scored a legitimate goal in the first half and scored another one in the second half but the referee ensured that the goals did not stand. If this sort of things continue to happen in our football we will never progress.

“The fans have a right to protest over the shoddy officiating, but what I will not stand for is violence,” the former Golden eaglets coach said.

Incidentally, fans of Shooting Stars had also reacted violently by taking out their frustration on coach Franklin Howard after Bendel Insurance had battled the Ibadan warlords to a goalless draw at the Lekan Salami Stadium in January.

By Mark Ogagan