Opinion: Rivers United/3SC Alleged Poor officiating saga: Barrister Chris Green Should have kept quiet but…Mr VAR
By Sunday Agunbiade (Mr VAR*).
Sequel to the alleged poor officiating against a member of Niger State Football Referee Council, Abubakar Abdullahi in Porth Harcourt, during Match Day 7 encounter in the Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL between Rivers United and Shooting Stars Football Club, 3SC of Ibadan and sprinkling of uncensored substance inside the net by the home team, the former Chairman, Technical Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF Barrister Christopher Green has decided to touch the tail of a cobra by reacting in a manner that could bring the Nigeria football league to disrepute.
According to his reaction in Nigeria’s leading sports social media handle named Sports World Platform, he said:
“I thought you would have spotted the exact questionable calls and to who’s favour. The goals scored were also questionable ? or the build-up.
“Maybe we need some education on the laws and application of the laws of the game. Maybe you would want to see the goals and the build-up.” The Commissioner of Football sorry, the Commissioner of Sports in Rivers state submitted.
Agunbiade on his part said
“Barrister Chris Green, as much as I respect you on football related matters and I found it very appalling to believe someone like you would come out to defend an embarrassing situation in Port Harcourt . What a world!
“How would someone of your status allow a non accredited person, who was not part of the officiating officials to go and sprinkle uncensored particle/substance inside the net at half time, after the first half had ended a goaless.
Agunbiade further said “One would have expected you to do the same thing, during your continental matches and world cup qualifying match against Benin Republic where Finidi George embarrassingly lost, but you knew you can’t try it. How comes you even tried , what you people could not do in continental matches or any CAF/FIFA organized competition in NPFL? Does that mean that Nigeria league is a free for all , where someone could just menace freely without consequences like it’s done in FIFA?
Further saying “Check the replay of the penalty saved by 3SC goalie and the second one saved and punched out difference. Kindly look at the other officiating scenarios and listen to how your fans were laughing at the referees, if you would be truly proud of your victory and unbeaten records even in the face of home fans, who you did not allow to enjoy a good football (Kudos to the brave journalist in Port Harcourt who openly criticized the referee and experienced coach Ogunbote frustrated for the first time)
“What save you from my hands this time is that the present Shooting Stars team is an eye sore to me and they are not competing enough to deserve any point but then, we must respect the sanctity of the game according to rules in the book, in line with global best practices (CAF/FIFA) so as to be proud of our league and produce a true champion
“I am quite sure if this were to be against you, you would have quoted some sections of FIFA statues to disturb the league board but it’s quite unfortunate that it’s coming from your end and I am very sure if @Honourable Gbenga Elegbeleye led board fails to sanction you, then, other venues will follow suit and we will continue to use Port Harcourt football Shenanigans as a point of reference to justify the others, where anyone could walk into the pitch and sprinkle any uncensored substance, where referees are still dressed. This is nothing but a shameful act from Rivers United
Your unbeaten records are not special to those who understand how you are doing it with compromising officials, even we still have good referees who can never mortgage their integrity and sincerely they are doing well this season, but there must certainly be Judas among 12 disciples. The Niger State Referee Council, Abubakar Abdullahi and Match Commissioner who failed to report this Shenanigan from your venue should not be trusted to play a part in NPFL until further notice.
I so submit.
*Sunday Agunbiade( Mr VAR*)
