Kennedy Boboye has pushed back against his 17-match suspension, presenting video footage he says shows he did not make physical contact with a match official during the incident that led to his punishment.
The Bendel Insurance Technical Adviser who was fined ₦2m and handed a lengthy ban by the Nigeria Premier Football League, shared the clip on a Sports World WhatsApp platform while questioning the basis of the decision.
“This is the video, did you see me touching the referee,” Boboye said, referring to the moment cited in the league’s disciplinary ruling.
Photo Credit: Insurance media
The NPFL in its summary jurisdiction, stated that Boboye “exhibited gross misconduct towards a match official which goes against the principle of fair play and discipline.”
However, the footage now circulating among stakeholders appears to show the coach charging towards the referee before being restrained by a club official, after which he engaged the assistant referee and walked away without any physical altercation.
Proportionality under scrutiny
From this standpoint, the 17-match suspension appears excessive, particularly if no physical contact was made.
In many football environments, coaches are known to express their dissatisfaction fiercely when they perceive decisions as unfair, yet such actions rarely attract bans of this magnitude unless they escalate into violence.
Boboye, notably, is not known for assaulting match officials, further raising questions about whether the punishment aligns with his track record and the incident as seen in the video.
Photo Credit: Insurance media
At the same time, another angle has surfaced. There are unverified claims suggesting that a more serious altercation may have occurred outside the widely circulated footage, with rumours alleging that the coach slapped the referee twice.
If such an incident did take place beyond what was captured on camera, it would significantly alter the interpretation of the sanction and potentially justify the severity of the punishment.
As of now no official evidence of that alleged assault has been publicly presented.
Boboye’s punishment came as part of broader disciplinary action against Bendel Insurance following crowd trouble and security breaches during their NPFL fixture against Plateau United FC.
The club was fined ₦7m and ordered to play three matches behind closed doors after supporters were found guilty of misconduct, with reports that match officials were harassed and held after the game.
Within that context, the league may have taken a stricter stance, viewing the coach’s actions as contributing to an already volatile situation.
