NPFL: Heartland say fans were right to beat up referees

The referees for the fixture between Heartland and Plateau United were attacked.

Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) side Heartland of Owerri have backed the supporters of the club after they attacked the match referee in their 1-1 draw against Plateau United on Monday, April 23.

After Plateau United snatched a late goal to equalise at the Dan Anyam stadium in Owerri, supporters of Heartland descended upon the center referee and his assistants.

The Heartland fans were reportedly not impressed with the performance of the officials which resulted into attack.

Heartland have however defended the actions of the club supporters as a statements issued reveals that the conduct of the referee was responsible for the action.

The statement is penned by media officer Henry Echefu, which reveals that the management of Heartland believe the center referee had a “premeditated motive to favour the away team,”  which ultimately resulted into conceding a very late goal.

The statement highlighted below states that the referee made several questionable decisions which led to the consequences in which he suffered at the end of the game.

 

The statement says, “That a delightful game that interested all the fans that loved watching good football was marred by the attitude of the center referee Mr Yusuf Garba from Kano state, truly speaking the facts remains that Mr Yusuf Garba marred the game right from the on-set, it was obvious that he already had a premeditated motive to favour the away team which was seen in the several questionable calls he made after the second half of the game which gave room for suspension.”

 

“At the end of 90 minutes if you watched closely you would have seen the fourth official signaling him Mr Garba for additional time but he International ignored him to allow about 4 minutes before adding 4minutes extra time even when the extra 4 minutes ended the match Commissioner Mr Roland Abu called his attention to end the game as the time was up and following his questionable calls to save the already heated up atmosphere but he responded nothing is happening.”

 

“All these  activities of Mr Garba  seriously marred the game and proved he had interest in the match which I  think was what must have informed the decision of the fans to angrily rush towards him immediately after the game but for the quick intervention of the men of the Nigerian police it would have been another story of an unending tells, thank God for the quick intervention of the  police who stood firm to rescue him surprisingly the police discovered on the referee Mr Garba  items around his waist and under his stockings which are not part of the refereeing equipment, but be it as it may it is important that Nigerian refrees help this country's league to grow and produce better teams that will fly the nation's flag in the continent and represent us well in future  CAF club competitions, such will help our teams  get pass  the group stage.”

 

“The LMC, the NFF and all football stakeholders should do the needful and faster​ too to save this  country's league from disrepute.”

The League Management Committee are yet to issue a verdict on the recent incident as Heartland are expected to take on Kano Pillars in their next fixture on Sunday, April 29.