Nigerian ref attacked by fans over disallowed goal

Fans charge at the referee as security staff rush to keep up

A Nigerian Cup semi-final tie had to be abandoned on Wednesday after fans invaded the pitch to assault the referee who had disallowed a late equaliser.

FC Ifeanyi Ubah had been leading Crown FC 2-1 at Kaduna’s Ahmadu Bello Stadium, with three minutes of normal time remaining when the referee made the controversial decision.

An angry group of fans and security officials encircle the ref on the pitch

Ademola Bamigbelu

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has told the BBC it is awaiting a report from its match commissioner before making a full statement.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) was fined $5,000 (£3,900) for overcrowding at the same stadium in March. It was packed three times beyond its capacity for Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Egypt.

Fans fill the stands and are also crammed onto a tall viewing platform made out of scaffolding

Getty Images

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