Enugu, June 9, 2024 (NAN) The week 35 star match of the Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL) between Rangers International of Enugu and Eyimba of Aba was abandoned by the visitors.
The Oriental derby played on Sunday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium Enugu, was abandoned after Rangers was awarded a penalty in the 107th minute of play.
Eyimba players protested the penalty and when the centre referee stood his ground, Eyimba players walked out of the pitch and refused to come back to continue play.
After waiting for Eyimba players to return to the pitch, the referee positioned the ball at the spot only for some fans at the stand, suspected to be Eyimba fans, to start throwing objects into the field.
The referee and the Rangers players became afraid and ran for their safety while the missiles continued to fly into pitch.
The fans overpowered the stadium stewards and invaded the pitch of play, thus bringing the game to an abrupt end.
NAN reports that the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, with 25,000 capacity, was full with about 40,000 spectators.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) report that at the time of the incident, the game was goalless.(NAN)
