The General Manager of Dolphins FC, Dumbor Awanen, says the refereeing he saw in Katsina Ala is the worst since he joined the club more than two seasons ago.
Awanen, who hardly speaks with the press on matters concerning referees, says he was forced to speak out after the show of shame in Benue State on Wednesday.
Dolphins lost that game 0-1 to Lobi Stars after a 94th minute penalty was awarded to the host.
“It was just too bad and the LMC must come out and tell us what plans they have for the league because if this continues, then we are heading for disaster,” Awanen said.
“It is no wonder they went and embarrassed Nigeria losing 7-1 on the continent, because of the underhand ways they win matches in the country,” a very angry Awanen said.
According to Awanen, a Lobi Stars striker ran into a Dolphins defender, Festus Austin, in the 70th minute and they were shocked that rather than call a foul against the Lobi player, it was a penalty against his team.
Awanen added: “Our goalkeeper, Austin Brown, saved that but the referee still had other plans in his sinister mind and he soon awarded another one in more bizarre circumstances.
“The referee added seven minutes at the end and in the 4th minute of added time, another Lobi Striker ran into our defensive midfielder, Seidu Abuu, injuring him in the process, but the referee called penalty against my team rather than penalize the Lobi player.
“This is the same Lobi Stars team that beat us 2-0 in Port Harcourt last season and the heavens did not fall. I know people will say Nigerian League clubs always complain about the referee when they lose but this is different.”
Awanen also said that officials on the bench queried the Assistant Referee, Shina Sodiq, from Sokoto State and his response was: “Did you give me money? Why are you disturbing me? The same man now told the coaches to see if they will win the game.”
“That is what an assistant referee said to the officials on the bench when they queried some of his decisions.
“We will rest this case for now and focus on our home game against Kano Pillars on Saturday.”
Awanen said the Second Assistant Referee, Zakka Aluwon, from Jigawa State, gave a decent performance but the culprits were the center referee, Mammada Aminu from Zamfara State, and the1st Assistant referee
Meanwhile, Dolphins will from now thenceforth play their weekend home matches on Saturday and not Sunday as it has been for at least four seasons now.
In a revised fixture list sent to Dolphins on May 28, 2013, all home games for Dolphins will now hold on Saturdays if it is a weekend fixture, starting from this weekend’s game against Kano Pillars.
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