Date: 2013-06-07

The Afonja Warriors said the referee was a disgrace to the Nigeria Professional Football League and showed from the beginning of the game that he was out to help the Bauchi side which they won 2-1.

Kwara United Media Officer, Olayioye Ajide blamed the officiating official for biased officiating which stakeholders have been preaching against if Nigerian league must move forward.

Olayioye Ajide queried the rationale behind appointing the two assistant referees Paul Maita and Austine Eyeroli as well as the Match Commissioner, Alhaji Bala Garba all from neighbouring Plateau State for a match involving Wikki Tourists in Bauchi.

Olayioye added that the center referree, Benjamin Neji overlooked the error of Wikki players not observing fair play rule as they craftily converted what was supposed to be a fair play into goal in the 45th minute by Ibrahim Shuaibu.

Olayioye noted that the Afonja Warriors were not unperturbed at the resumption of second half and leveled up in the 48th minute when Kabiru Sanusi fired in the leveller from almost center half which caught the Wikki goalkeeper napping.

"Sensing that Kwara United may increase the tally, the referee,Neji awarded a  questionable penalty against Kwara to placate frayed nerves of the Wikki Tourists fans that threatened him at half time which Bolaji Shakin converted into goal in the 65th minute ". 

"In all, the ball boys kept away all the balls to unnecessarily delay flow of the game". 
"If truly we want our league to grow, all these antics must be checked, the win-at home syndrome must stop and the League management company must do all withing their power to make sure that they monitor the referees in all matches".

He called on the league board to look into happenings at match venues and wield the big stick on erring officials to serve as deterrent to others even as appointment of officials from neighbouring states may not bring sanity for now.
Olayioy however revealed that the outcome of the game will not dampen the spirit of high riding Kwara United in the league this season.

Kwara United are fourth on the league table with 25 points.