Date: 2018-05-01

players and officials of Kwara United and the referees in charge of their Premier League match against Yobe Desert Stars in Damaturu on Sunday escaped being beaten by fans of the home team after the match, which ended in a goalless draw.

The Punch correspondent learnt that trouble broke out in additional time after Yobe scored a goal, which the referee ruled out due to an infringement. The fans, who believed the goal should have been allowed, became agitated after the referee ended the match but they were curtailed by security officials present at the stadium.

It was learnt that officials and players of Kwara United could not leave the stadium as the fans demanded that the referees, who had gone into hiding, be produced.

However, the visitors and the referees left the stadium without any hurt after the fans Yobe officials pleaded with them to leave the stadium.

Spokesman for Kwara United Abdulwaheed Bibiire told our correspondent on the telephone on Monday that the Ilorin team fled Damaturu after the match because they feared that they could be attacked at their hotel.

"It was a serious incident. The officiating was fair and there was no complaint from both teams but the fans were very angry with the result and they threatened to attack us. Some of them had weapons and they were ready to beat our players and officials as well as the referees," he said.

"We were at the stadium for close to two hours after the match before the security officials advised us to leave the town that night so that we wouldn't be attacked at the hotel overnight."

But spokesman for Yobe Jibo Zakari denied that the visitors left Damaturu because their lives were under any threat.

He said, "Our fans were truly angry because of the officiating and the way our team played. They believed that the referee was not fair enough. They were also angry that the referee abandoned the dressing room for Kwara's dressing room. The referee also removed his jersey and wore that of Kwara and entered their bus.

"All these made the fans believe he favoured the visitors. But they did not hold anyone hostage because the security officials had calmed them down and the situation was under control".