The Nigerian National League (NNL) Super 8 playoff match between Bendel Insurance and Remo Stars was Saturday night called off after Bendel Insurance refused to turn up for kick-off.
The match billed to host simultaneously with the match between 3SC and Ekiti United by 3 pm, couldn’t come up even after a protracted discussion between NNL officials and the two teams due to protest by Bendel Insurance Football Club for alleged inconsistency with the rules by the NNL.
The Vipers had earlier called for an emergency press conference to register their displeasure over the 11th-hour change of venue from the initial UNEC Centre they picked during the venue draw without any information as to why it was changed and also the change of officials which to them is suspicious.
The NNL, after a close door meeting with the officials of Bendel Insurance and Remo Stars, announced that the match will kick off by 5 pm after announcing the FIFA referee, Patience Madu, as the new referee for the match.
After talks and persuasion from the NNL to kick start the match even with an order from the NFF to have the match played, Insurance insisted on not playing the match as they maintained they were not sure of what could befall them after the lack of transparency displayed by the NNL.
The referees for the third time left the field after waiting for the unrepentant Insurance to walk to the field and have the match played.
Soon, the NNL Media and Communication Manager, Ama Ignis, announced that the match will now be rescheduled for Sunday, September 12 at the same venue.
“There is now another ruling that annihilates the earlier rule that the match should hold today. As a result, the match between Bendel Insurance and Remo Stars will now take place on Sunday, September 12, 2021”.
