NPFL: Plateau United FC deny attack on centre referee

The Management of Plateau United Football Club of Jos has denied reports making the rounds that their supporters attacked centre referee, Sam Agba, during the Nigeria Professional Football League matchday one tie against Ifeanyi Uba of Nnewi at the new Jos Stadium on Sunday.

The club through its Media Officer, Albert Dakup, said the report was not only baseless, but a calculated attempt aimed at tarnishing the image of the club and General Manager, Pius Henwan.

Dakup explained that immediately after the match when angry fans attempted to invade the pitch in an attempt to gain access to the match officials, security agents including the Special Task Force in the state code-named “Operation Safe Haven” were at hand to restore normalcy and even escorted the centre referee and other match officials to the dressing room.

He noted that the General Manager of the Club and the Chairman, Plateau State Football Association (PFA) Sunday Longbap not only assisted the match officials to get to the dressing room safely, they also made sure the match officials left the stadium unharmed.

“Plateau Utd wondered why the authors of the malicious reports peddled around cannot verify issues and separate fact from fiction before going to press.

“Apart from ensuring that match officials left the stadium unharmed, the General Manager of the club also ensured that they got to their hotel safely and personally saw them off to their various destinations on Monday morning”, he explained.

According to him, “Plateau United is a law-abiding club and will not indulge in acts capable of bringing the Nigeria Professional Football League or Nigerian Football to disrepute.

“It is on record that since they got promotion back to the top flight three years ago, no any match official(s) have been molested either at the Rwang Pam Stadium or the new Jos stadium.

“Plateau Utd wish to challenge the authors of the reports to produce evidence of the assault on the referee and the hospital he was admitted to buttress their facts.”

The Club said it regard the report as a ploy to distract the team from attaining its target this season and urge members of the public, especially soccer fans to disregard the baseless report which is aimed at destroying the club’s reputation.

He assured of the Club’s continuous support for the good work of the League Management Company and the Nigeria Football Federation in reposition football in the country.

More News

President Buhari to Embark on Eight-Day Visit to Saudi Arabia, Perform Umrah

On Tuesday morning, President Muhammadu Buhari will begin an eight-day state visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where he is expected to perform...

Senator-Elect Yar’Adua Commits to Delivering Change for Katsina Central District

Senator-elect Abdul’aziz Yar’Adua of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Katsina Central Senatorial District has vowed to deliver on his campaign promises to the...

Police Arrest Suspect in Brutal Killing of Pregnant Girlfriend in Kano

The Kano State Police Command has arrested Philibus Ibrahim, who allegedly strangled his pregnant girlfriend, 22-year-old Theresa Yakubu, in Tudun Wada Local Government Area...

2023 Polls: Group warns Governor Matawalle over inciting comments, blaming Nigerian military

The Centre for Africa Liberation and Socio-Economic Rights (CALSER), a Civil Society Organisation, has accused Governor Bello Matawalle of displaying undemocratic tendencies following his...