Football Referee Almost Beaten To Death For Penalty Decision in Abuja

 

 These referee Charles Ozigbo pictured above was attacked in a match between Ranchers bees of Kaduna and Kwara united of Ilorin at the FIFA goal project at the FIFA goal project pitch Abuja.

 

 The match was already going on before trouble started.the referee was said to have awarded a penalty to the Illorin side after Bees players was judged to have handled the ball twice in the penalty box.

 Problems started18 minutes into the game, when the referee awarded penalty to the Illorin side after Bees players was judged to have handled the ball twice in the penalty box.

Just before the penalty was taken, fans attacked the referee and injured him in the process.

According to what kwara united FC Team manager, Masambo Ibrahim told footballlive:

" Our team had the early chances and ball possession  and the high pressure was the reason they eventually got rewarded for their effort after two players handled the ball and a penalty awarded which irked a player of Ranchers Bees who hit the referee and eventually the chaotic scene ensued.

“We started the match around 10:30am, and as the match was on we were having upper hand in the game and two of their players handled the ball inside the penalty area and the referee awarded a penalty, as soon as the penalty was awarded, someone just carrieda stone and hit the referee on the head and the referee was attacked and the whole venue turned upsidedown and the referee was beaten black and blue which lead to us all running helter skelter for safety.” Masambo Added.