Bendel Insurance head coach Kennedy Boboye has been handed a 17-match ban by the NPFL following a controversial incident after his team's 2-2 draw with Plateau United. The penalty stems from allegations of verbal abuse and intimidation of match officials, which Boboye strongly denies. He claims his only interaction with the referee was a calm question about a late decision that led to a penalty for Plateau United in the 94th minute. That penalty, converted after the referee reversed an initial foul call on Plateau United's striker and instead booked Bendel Insurance's goalkeeper, leveled the score. Boboye stated he approached the referee post-match to seek clarification, saying, "I asked what the call was about," but received no response. He insists he said "okay, no problem" and returned to the bench without incident. He dismissed claims of physical contact, saying, "Why would I slap the referee at my age and in this time?" The Edo State Commissioner for Sports, who was present, reportedly confirmed there was no assault. Boboye revealed the league had not contacted him for a statement before issuing the ban. His club, Bendel Insurance FC, has initiated an appeal after receiving official notification of the sanction.
When Boboye says he only asked a question and walked away, it exposes a disciplinary system that punishes inquiry as if it were insubordination. The fact that the Edo State Sports Commissioner personally escorted officials safely through a tense environment suggests the situation was under control, not escalated by the coach. Treating a post-match question as grounds for a 17-match ban risks conflating accountability with aggression, especially when no physical contact occurred. This precedent could chill legitimate engagement between coaches and referees in the league.
