Rivers United edge Tornadoes as Referees get indefinite suspension
By Olusola Adebayo
Rivers United defeated Niger Tornadoes by 2-1at the Adokie Amasimaka Stadium in a Week 3 Nigeria Premier League, NPFL, played on Tuesday but the center referee was the center of attraction after he called off a goal scored by Niger Tornadoes in the course of the game.
Faro Abdulrahman from Lagos canceled the goal when Rivers United Goalkeeper missed the ball from a corner kick and Niger Tornadoes kick the ball into an open net, to leave the match all squared at 1-1.
Rivers United had shot into the lead in the 7th minute through Eyinnaya after he connected with Chiamaka Madu's freekick.
But Waheed Adebayo levels from the spot to peg the scoreline to 1-1 in the 29th before
31' Ebube Duru curls his free-kick above the wall to beat Tornado's goalkeeper, Lucky Abdullahi.
Both teams should find the back of the net all the second half to end the by two goals to one in favor of Rivers United.
The results put Rivers United on 7 points and top Group A where Abia Warriors and Tornadoes are closely following on second and third respectively on six points each.
In a swift reaction to the goal disallowed by the center referee, the Nigeria Football Federation has placed an indefinite suspension on Faro Abdulrahman and two other officials in the NPFL for questionable officiating.
In a letter signed by the Secretary of the committee, Sani Zubair, the two indicted officials are Ndubuisi Ukah and
Otuwho Morrisson the Centre referee and Assistant Referee 2 in the match involving Shooting Stars and Kwara United in week 2.
"They are to appear before the Referee’s Committee for an explanation on what happened in their matches they were involved " the letter reads in parts.
The last match of the Week of the NPFL continues today in Ikenne where Remo Stars host Shooting Stars.
All eyes will be on the match officials as they have been under public scrutiny since the beginning of the season, which has seen an unprecedented 9 away victories already ans many attributed this unusually high number to good officiating of the games by the referees.
