Bendel Insurance have formally lodged a protest with the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) over the circumstances surrounding their 1-0 defeat to Rangers International in Wednesday’s rescheduled Matchday 9 fixture at the Awka City Stadium.
Sports247 reports that in a club statement dated November 5, 2026, the Benin-based side challenged the validity of the winning goal scored by Rangers defender Chidozie Iwundu in the 47th minute, arguing that the goal should not have stood because the goalframe had become displaced during the attacking move.
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According to Bendel Insurance, the incident occurred shortly after the second-half restart when Rangers launched an attacking move. The crossbar became displaced, but the referee allegedly allowed play to continue, resulting in Rangers scoring the only goal of the encounter.
The club insists that the match officials should have stopped play immediately when the goalframe was displaced.
Bendel Insurance Cite IFAB Laws
In explaining the grounds for their protest, Bendel Insurance cited IFAB Law 1.10, which they say requires play to be stopped when a goalpost or crossbar becomes displaced or broken until it is repaired or replaced.
The club further argued that the goal should not have counted because it was scored while the goalframe was not in its proper position.
Bendel Insurance described the incident as a misapplication of the Laws of the Game rather than a mere refereeing judgement or factual decision. They also maintained that the irregularity directly affected the outcome because Iwundu’s effort proved decisive.
The club further challenged the protection of the referee’s decision under Law 5.2, arguing that the provision on the finality of refereeing decisions should not apply where a mandatory law has allegedly been incorrectly implemented.
Club Calls for Fair Application of the Rules
Bendel Insurance stressed that their protest was not an accusation of deliberate wrongdoing against the match officials but a formal challenge concerning the application of the Laws of the Game.
The club said its position was guided by concerns about player safety, competitive fairness, and the integrity of the NPFL.
The petition now places the circumstances surrounding Rangers’ victory before the league authorities, with attention expected to focus on the goalframe incident and the application of the relevant laws.
