Players and supporters from the Ishielu Local Government Area team vented their frustration towards referee Sebastian Onwe due to what they perceived as poor officiating during final of the Ebonyi State governor’s cup.
The referee found himself chased around the stadium by an angry mob.
The situation was eventually defused when Governor Francis Nwifuru intervened to rescue the referee, as security personnel struggled to contain the situation.
Governor Nwifuru strongly criticized the attack during the prize presentation, labeling it as “shameful and embarrassing.”
He emphasized that players dissatisfied with a referee’s decisions should follow proper channels for complaints rather than resorting to such unprofessional behavior.
To prevent future incidents, the governor announced that match officials for upcoming competitions would be sourced from other states.
In the final score, Ebonyi LGA emerged victorious, defeating Ishielu 2-1, while Ohaozara LGA secured third place with a 1-0 victory over Izzi in the third-place match.