Head coach of NPFL side Bendel Insurance, Kennedy Boboye, has denied any wrongdoing following the hefty 17-game suspension handed to him by the league’s governing body, www.aclsports.com reports.
It was reported that after Bendel Insurance drew 2-2 with Plateau United, Boboye charged towards the referees, going as far as assaulting the match officials on Saturday.
In a swift ruling, the league body found the coach guilty of improper conduct towards a match official, an act deemed to be in violation of the league’s regulations on discipline and fair play.
However, the two-time league winner has come out to state that he never committed the offence for which he has been punished by the league organizers, while also sharing the video evidence of the reported incident.
”I only went to ask him about the penalty he awarded against us. That’s all,” Boboye said.
While the coach has made his case, observers have also called the sanctions too harsh if the said incident did not take place.
In addition, his club, Bendel Insurance, was also fined ₦5 million for breaches relating to the incident. The NPFL also ruled that the club must play its next three home matches behind closed doors, citing crowd-related issues and the overall handling of the situation as contributing factors.
Consequently, games against Abia Warriors, Katsina United, and the final game of the season against Remo Stars will all be played behind closed doors at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin. The Benin Arsenals are currently seventh on the log with 46 points from 32 matches.
Meanwhile, Bendel Insurance are expected to appeal the decision within 48 hours of the ruling to the NFF Disciplinary Committee.
