Chaos Erupts in Oriental Derby, Highlighting Need for VAR in Nigeria Premier Football League
The necessity of deploying the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has been underscored once again by fans, players, and stakeholders. This call follows a contentious incident during the match-day 34 Oriental Derby, a potential 2023/24 title decider between Enugu Rangers and Enyimba, held in Enugu on Sunday.
With only two points separating them before the game, Rangers and Enyimba clashed in a top-of-the-table encounter at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium. The match was abandoned in the 98th minute following a pitch invasion by fans, just seconds before the end of the game. This chaos erupted after center referee John Ojeleye awarded a penalty to Rangers for a disputed foul on striker Godwin Obaje inside the Enyimba box.
Enyimba players vehemently protested the decision, confronting the assistant referee and eventually walking off the pitch. The situation escalated as fans turned the suspended game into a chaotic brawl. As both clubs and their supporters await the league body’s verdict on the game, many believe that the use of VAR could have averted the disorderly conclusion.
Calls for VAR Intensify
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Michael Nnabuchi, a TV content producer involved in broadcasting NPFL games, emphasized the importance of VAR. “With what happened in Enugu on Sunday, the importance of VAR cannot be overemphasized,” he stated. Nnabuchi pointed out that VAR would have clarified any doubts about whether there was actual contact in the box or if the player was offside, allowing the referee to review the decision.
A player from the match echoed this sentiment, saying, “Definitely, if we had a VAR in that game, it would have helped because it would have shown that the Rangers striker was offside. Even the referee had signalled that. We watch matches too and we see how this has helped referees to make decisions in other parts of the world.”
Rangers Punishment
Following the tumultuous events that led to the abandonment of the game, several penalties have been imposed. Rangers International FC of Enugu has been fined a total of N5,000,000 (5 Million Naira):
- N1 Million for inadequate security provisions
- N1 Million for insufficient crowd control measures
- N1 Million for allowing unauthorized access to restricted areas
- N2 Million for over-ticketing
Additionally, the club has been ordered to implement more effective crowd control mechanisms for future games.
