By Tolu Atobatele
Accusations of favoritism and dubious calls have been a staple of Nigeria local league (NPFL) for years, even the body saddle with the responsibility of making the field a level playing grounds for every participating teams in the topflight league are no saints themselves as far as favoritism is concern while winning at all cost mentality can not be overemphasised with few of the government owned teams long considered the beneficiaries of controversial decisions made by match officials.
The week 23 NPFL match played on Wednesday May 26 between Adamawa United and Katsina United at the Ribadu Square Stadium, Yola will do nothing to quell that talk. If anything, it will only increase it after the officiating referee dubiously overlooked a penalty call when Adamawa United defender fouled a Katsina United forward Wasiu who was brought down in the box while heading towards goal to the dismay of Katsina United management who were hopeful of getting something out of the game possibly to take them off the relegation zone, but that hope was dashed and quenched by the center referee who stood his ground despite his poor handling of the game.
A good and quick exchange of passes by Katsina United who were trailing the game by a lone goal after Abdulmalik Sanusi had scored an own goal in 57 minutes of play released and put Wasiu on course for an equaliser but was hacked down in the penalty area when an Adamawa United player tuck his leg between Wasiu’s legs thus sending him to the ground. After hesitating momentarily, the center referee decided otherwise and wave goal kick.
Replay of the incident showed there was a foul on Wasiu in the box, a scene that plays out in just about every football match in the NPFL most especially when Katsina United plays yet hardly ever produces a whistle for such a transgression.
This all came on the heels of a second half controversial decisions by the referee but incredibly he allowed the game to continue despite calls from Katsina United boys for a penalty.
Katsina United sits in 17th position on the log with 22points after 23 round of matches with high hope of surviving the drop but what they’re getting in terms of officiating is nothing but terrible. I am not surprise though because its is not the first time that Katsina United will be subjected to such ill treatment by match officials and even the league organizers with no one having a clear picture of their intent. It remains to be seen if there will be any further dubious calls against Katsina United who are fighting very hard to avoid the drop to the lower league.
Many incidents in past matches has proved that maybe match officials or some administrators are wishing the club (Katsina United) get relegated if not we will keep asking same question all day with no answer to defend it but for now the conspiracy theories of referees favoring some teams over others will continue to rage on and brings the local league into disrepute the more.
Sport Angle Int'l- SAI SPORTS 