In response to the contentious penalty goal awarded to The Benin Arsenal on Thursday, Gateway United goalkeeper Araromi Ibukun has claimed that the center referee in charge of the match in Benin against Bendel Insurance allegedly told him during the game that Insurance must win the match by any means.
Yesterday’s Week 18 Nigeria National League match between Bendel Insurance and Gateway United ended in a 4-0 victory for Bendel Insurance despite controversy surrounding the center referee’s dubious behavior.
The first goal scored by Bendel Insurance in the game was the main talking point of the game. The goal shouldn’t have stood since Sodje Stephen was in the 18-yard box before the spot-kick was played, he managed to touch the ball from the goalkeeper’s penalty save into the net for Gateway United.
The Gateway United bench erupted in protest as players and officials questioned the goal’s legitimacy, but the center referee upheld the goal’s validity and continued play.
Araromi Ibukun commented on the referee’s performance during the game on a WhatsApp group on Friday. He claimed that the center referee allegedly told him during the game that Bendel Insurance must win at all costs and that there is nothing anyone can do to stop it. Sports 247 reported.
“Smile…..d referee was telling me on d field of play that there’s nothing we can do insurance must-win.
“I swear to God who made me I just give up immediately d referee utter d statement… Cuz after that he was cutting all our moves,” he said.
