By Obaseki Anthony on February 19, 2020

The Management of Rangers International FC has made an official appeal to the Nigerian football league organisers, the League Management Company (LMC), against the decisions of FCT-based referee, Jacob Gwatsa, over his controversial handling of the Matchday 20 Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) fixture with Akwa United in Enugu.

Rangers management complained that the referee ignored two clear penalty calls against the visiting side that ran away with a 1-2 win. It wondered why the same referee that had his red card decision against its player, Pascal Seka, in a rescheduled Matchday 8 fixture against host Bendel Insurance in Benin last season rescinded by the league organisers would be at the centre of controversial calls barely a year after.

The Rangers appeal was contained in a letter signed by the Team Manager, Barrister Amobi Ezeaku, for the General Manager. It reads in part: “Let it be stated that this same Jacob Gwatsa issued a red card in the match day 8, match number 045A Rescheduled between Bendel Insurance FC vs. Rangers International FC, Enugu. The LMC reversed the red card decision.”

The appeal reads further, “Asides the numerous questionable calls made by Referee Jacob Gwatsa, in the match day 20 fixture, the height of it was the penalty appeals which the said referee waved off to the chagrin of even his co-officials in the game. On two occasions, the opposing defenders handled the ball in the penalty box and a striker (Seka Pascal) was hacked down inside the box and the referee waved play on…..”

Rangers wondered if it was a coincidence that the same referee whose decision was reversed by the LMC barely a year ago could be found culpable again or was it just human error or a clear case of targeted aggression to the club due to past meetings?

The Flying Antelopes appealed to LMC for justice not only to be done but to be seen to have been done by the league organising body so as to maintain the high standard already attained in the NPFL.

Source Daily Sports

Posted February 19, 2020

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