NNL: Bayelsa United refuse to continue play in match against ABS FC

Bayelsa United Football Club of Yenegoa on Sunday in Ilorin, Kwara State discontinued their 2015/2016 Nigeria National League fixture against hosts, Abubakar Bukola Saraki FC, in the 60th minute.
This was after centre referee Abdullahi Ndatsu from Niger State awarded a penalty kick when Ibrahim Abdullahi was upended in the penalty area.
The match’s scoreline at that time was 3-1 in favour of ABS FC.
Earlier in the game, former Heartland FC striker, Muhammed Muhammed, had scored in quick succession in the 23rd and 24th minutes.
Doyin Olowosaiye scored the third goal for ABS FC in the 34th minute to put the scores at 3-0.
Bayelsa United’s Samuel Akinbinu reduced the lead when he nodded home their only goal.
During the melee, which trailed the penalty kick award, Ndatsu sent off Infeanyi Chukwuma after he abused the referee.
It took the intervention of policemen before the Bayelsa United player left the pitch.
When he eventually left the pitch, one unidentified Bayelsa United official approached him and he went back to the pitch to continue his assault on the centre referee.
He poked fingers at the referee’s face before the policemen could finally escort him out of the field.
The penalty kick could not be taken before the centre referee called off the game after the expiration of full time.
The Bayelsa United players had stayed on the pitch, but refused to restart the game.
No official of Bayelsa United was ready to speak with newsmen on the reason to discontinue with the match.
However, the Coach of ABS FC, Henry Makinwa, said the visiting side stopped play for reasons he did not understand.
Makinwa said: “It is a pathetic situation and lack of proper administration.
“The coach could have allowed his boys to continue and that is fair play.
“When we had two goals disallowed against Gateway FC in Abeokuta recently, I told my players to continue and we lost 3-1 and I approached the match officials and had a handshake with them after.
“But many people have seen this here today when my player was hacked.
“So, I don’t understand the basis of their anger.”