Bendel Insurance have formally challenged Enugu Rangers’ 1-0 victory in a rescheduled Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Matchday 9 fixture, claiming the decisive goal was scored after the crossbar had been displaced.
The match was played in Awka, Anambra State, on Wednesday, with Rangers securing victory through a 47th-minute goal. Bendel Insurance, known as the Benin Arsenals, have now submitted a strongly worded protest to the NPFL over the validity of the goal.
In a statement signed by the club’s Head of Media, Kehinde Osagiede, Bendel Insurance said the officials should have stopped play when the goal frame was no longer in its correct position.
“IFAB Law 110 is very clear. When a crossbar becomes displaced or broken, play MUST be stopped until it is repaired or replaced. This was not done,” the club stated.
Bendel Insurance argued that the goal should have been disallowed because the frame had become displaced before the ball crossed the line. They said play should have been halted immediately and resumed only after the crossbar had been repaired or replaced.
The club stressed that its complaint was not based on an interpretation of the Laws of the Game or a subjective assessment of the referee’s decision. Instead, it described the incident as a failure to apply a specific regulation.
“Since the goal determined the outcome, the irregularity materially affected the result,” Bendel Insurance added.
The Benin-based club also sought to make clear that it was not accusing the match officials of deliberately acting improperly.
“Rather, it is a formal challenge to the application of the Laws, with particular emphasis on player safety, competitive fairness and the integrity of the NPFL,” the statement concluded.
The protest follows a result that strengthened Rangers’ position at the top of the league table. Enugu Rangers have 21 points from 10 matches and also have a game in hand.
Bendel Insurance are fourth with 18 points.
The club’s submission will now put the focus on the NPFL’s assessment of whether the goal was valid under the law cited in the protest and whether the alleged displacement of the crossbar affected the outcome of the match.
By Sab Osuji