A football match has ended in controversy in Akure, Nigeria. The match between FC Ebedei and Yewa Football Academy was abandoned after FC Ebedei players walked off the pitch due to a serious injury to Yewa goalkeeper Olalere Ridwan.
According to reports, the injury occurred late in the first half when Ridwan lost consciousness after a collision with an FC Ebedei player. The match commissioner's report stated that the injured goalkeeper's condition was considered serious and required immediate medical intervention.
While Yewa officials claim the match was ended prematurely by FC Ebedei without permission from the referee, match officials maintain that the match was abandoned due to the injury.
Chairman of Yewa Football Academy, Mojeed Ibrahim, described the incident as "a troubling moment for Nigerian football," insisting that the match ended because FC Ebedei elected to leave the pitch.
"A football match cannot end because one side decides it is over," Mr. Mojeed told PREMIUM TIMES.
Mojeed Ibrahim is a well-known figure in Nigerian football, having held various positions in football administration. As chairman of Yewa Football Academy, he has overseen several youth football programs and has been involved in several football-related initiatives.
The Reserve Referee had already cleared Yewa's reserve goalkeeper to replace Ridwan, and the game was ready to continue. However, FC Ebedei players refused to return to the pitch.
FC Ebedei owner Barrister Churchill Oliseh allegedly instructed his players to leave the field without any directive from the referee.
"I was in the stands and found it deeply disturbing, especially as the match was being live-streamed. Viewers witnessed a breakdown of order, which does no good to the image of the league," Mr. Mojeed said.
The incident is expected to be reviewed by the Nationwide League One (NLO), which will determine the fixture's outcome and any possible disciplinary measures in accordance with the competition's regulations.
The NLO will rely on its specific competition rules and the reports of the referee and match commissioner to make a decision. Football regulations generally state that only the referee has the authority to abandon a match, while clubs are expected to continue playing unless otherwise directed by match officials.
When a team leaves the field without permission or refuses to resume play after being instructed to do so, disciplinary committees often impose sanctions ranging from forfeitures to fines and suspensions.
The outcome of the review will have significant implications for the NLO and Nigerian football as a whole.