Bendel Insurance petition NPFL over controversial Rangers goal

Bendel Insurance have formally petitioned the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) over Enugu Rangers‘ controversial winning goal in their Matchday 9 encounter at the Awka City Stadium on Wednesday, November 4, 2026.

The Benin Arsenal are challenging the circumstances surrounding Rangers’ 1–0 victory, alleging that the match officials failed to apply the laws of the game after the goalframe was displaced during the attacking move that produced the decisive goal.

The protest centres on a second-half incident in which Rangers continued their attacking move despite the displacement of the goalpost’s crossbar, with the referee allowing play to continue.

Chidozie Iwundu eventually scored the only goal of the encounter in the 47th minute, handing the Flying Antelopes all three points and moving them to the top of the NPFL table.

However, Bendel Insurance believe the goal should not have stood because of the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Bendel Insurance explain reason for protest

in its official statement released on Thursday, November 5, the club confirmed that it had formally petitioned the NPFL, questioning the application of the relevant football regulations during the encounter.

Bendel Insurance specifically cited IFAB Law 1.10, which addresses the requirements for goalposts and crossbars, and Law 10.1, which explains the conditions under which a goal can be awarded.

According to the club, the goalframe became displaced during Rangers’ attacking move shortly after the restart in the second half, but the referee failed to stop the match.

The club maintains that the officials should have immediately halted proceedings until the goalframe was repaired or restored to its proper position.

In its statement, Bendel Insurance argued that the incident was not simply a matter of refereeing interpretation but a failure to apply an existing provision of the Laws of the Game.

Bendel Insurance challenge Rangers’ winning goal

The Edo State-based side insists that the goal should have been disallowed because it was scored while the goalframe was not in its proper position.

IFAB Law 1.10 states that when a crossbar becomes displaced or broken, play must be stopped until it has been repaired or replaced in position.

The law further provides that play should restart with a dropped ball after the necessary repair has been completed.

Law 10.1, meanwhile, states that a goal is scored when the entire ball crosses the goal line between the goalposts and underneath the crossbar, provided no offence has been committed by the scoring team.

Bendel Insurance believe these provisions were not correctly applied during the incident that produced Rangers’ winning goal.

The club also argues that the referee’s decision should not automatically be protected by the finality provision in Law 5.2, insisting that the matter concerns the alleged non-application of a mandatory provision rather than an ordinary factual decision.

Bendel insurance maintain position on fairness

Despite questioning the outcome of the encounter, Bendel Insurance have maintained that their petition is not an accusation of deliberate wrongdoing against the match officials.

Rather, the club describes its 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.

The club believes that incidents of this nature must be properly examined to ensure that the rules governing the competition are consistently enforced

Rangers, meanwhile, secured a crucial victory through Iwundu’s second-half effort, with the result strengthening their position in the title race.

NPFL is yet to respond to Bendel Insurance’s petition, leaving the league’s response to the controversial incident eagerly anticipated.

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