Bendel Insurance have formally challenged the outcome of their Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) encounter against Enugu Rangers following an incident that decided Wednesday’s rescheduled Matchday 9 fixture.
The Benin Arsenal suffered a narrow 1–0 defeat to the Flying Antelopes on November 4, a result that sent Rangers to the top of the league table. However, the circumstances surrounding the winning goal have now prompted Bendel Insurance to question the application of the Laws of the Game.
The petition centres on an incident involving the goalpost during Rangers’ attacking move shortly after the interval.
According to Bendel Insurance, the goal frame became displaced following a cross from Rangers, but the attacking move continued despite the situation, allowing the home side to find the breakthrough.
Chidozie Iwundu eventually headed home in the 47th minute to give Rangers the lead, with the goal proving decisive as Fidelis Ilechukwu’s men held on to secure all three points.
Bendel Insurance, however, insist that the goal should not have stood because the ball crossed the line while the goal frame was not in its proper position.
Why Bendel Insurance are protesting
In their formal position, the Benin based club argue that the referee failed to apply Law 1 of the Laws of the Game, which addresses the requirements and dimensions of the field of play, including the goalposts.
The club maintains that play should have been stopped immediately when the crossbar became displaced and should only have resumed after the goal frame was properly restored or replaced.
Bendel Insurance further argue that the circumstances surrounding the incident made it impossible for the goal to be allowed to stand.
Their objection goes beyond the referee’s interpretation of an ordinary match incident. The club considers the decision a misapplication of the Laws of the Game rather than a matter of subjective refereeing judgment.
They also maintain that the goal directly determined the outcome of the encounter, making the alleged error particularly significant.
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The club has also addressed the possibility of the referee’s decision being protected by the finality provision under Law 5.2.
Bendel Insurance argue that the provision should not apply because, in their view, a mandatory requirement of the Laws of the Game was not correctly implemented.
Their position is that the incident represents a challenge to the application of the rules rather than an attempt to overturn a decision that falls within the referee’s normal discretionary authority.
The Benin Arsenal have consequently described their action as a formal challenge to the application of the Laws of the Game, with particular emphasis on player safety, competitive fairness and the integrity of the NPFL.
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Meanwhile, the victory has strengthened Rangers’ position in the early stages of the 2026/27 NPFL campaign.
The Flying Antelopes entered the rescheduled fixture level on 18 points with Bendel Insurance and needed maximum points to move ahead of Rivers United, who had occupied the summit.
Iwundu’s second half effort delivered the required result, taking Rangers to 21 points from 10 matches and giving them a three-point advantage over their nearest challengers at the time.
Bendel Insurance, who had arrived in Enugu on the back of consecutive league victories over Rivers United and Kwara United, remain on 18 points following the defeat.
