By Nelson Dafe, Benin City on April 1, 2016

BJ Foundation FC on Thursday lost 1-2 to Dynamite Force FC in the semi-final of the 2016 Edo State Challenge Cup (FA Cup). It was a game that would be remembered for how it ended as much as the result.

With many stoppages made to treat Dynimite players who were going down injured in a manner that suggested deliberate time wasting (especially from the Dynimite ’keeper Tosin), the centre referee decided to add just three minutes for extra time and it was an incredulous decision that infuriated the crowd at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

In the end the irate fans showed their anger by converging at the exit gate through which the referees were to pass to their dressing room to let them know their feelings. Some fans engaged in destroying some of the facilities at the stadium.

The security at the stadium was appalling; as at the time this was happening there were only a couple of female policemen around, leaving security at the stadium in the hands of stadium council workers, some of whom this reporter discovered were sympathetic to Dynamite whose Chairman Bernard Jonah doubles as the chairman of the Sports Council workers. At least one of them (who is said to be a karate expert) constantly baited fans of BJ throughout the game to do their worst.

The result was violent scenes in the stadium as these martial-arts trained council workers and their friends used maximum force in dealing with angry fans.

This reporter witnessed what happened to a particular fan who was incensed by the decision of the referee. He was hitting the gate at the entrance to the referee’s dressing room while swearing at the officials. A stadium council worker dared him to do anything he liked as they decided to forcefully take the referees to their dressing room. As they flung the gates open, about five men from the council suddenly grabbed the particular fan and dragged him to the dressing room, where they gave him a severe beating. Blows, jabs and kicks were rained on the fan, who pleaded for his life to be spared as he was left isolated with only a few persons aware of the beating he was being subjected to in the dressing room.

In another ugly scene, some fans hit Dynamite Chairman Bernard Jonah for allegedly assaulting a fan whom he accused of destroying stadium facilities.

It was a shameful end to a game that had a lot of quality. Dynamite played an intelligently compact and defensive game that effectively dealt with the pace and directness of BJ’s attack.

In one counter-attacking move midway into the first half, Dynamite scored a beauty of a goal. Midfielder Bayo freed himself from the left channel and squared for an onrushing attacker to back-flick into the net.

Tried as BJ did to get back, Dynamite held firm. Midway into the second half, Dynamite got a penalty when a BJ player was adjudged to have handled the ball. It was by some as a harsh decision because the ball was cleared and was moving away from the penalty box to just in front of the 18-yard box when the player inadvertently handled it. Bayo took the kick and scored.

BJ pulled one back late into the game through Junior Osaghae who headed home a beautiful cross from left back Abraham Odianose.

As BJ mounted pressure to equalise, Dynamite players began to engage in play-acting and time wasting, falling down all around the pitch. Then the referee’s infamous decision to add only three minutes of extra time came.

Source Daily Sports

Posted April 1, 2016

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