Asekunowo slams ref over red card incident

Rivers United defender, Ayobami Asekunowo has taken a swipe at referee Sani Mohammed and insists that the referee was wrong in sending him off at the closing stages of their tie against Niger Tornadoes.

The defender was given the marching orders on Sunday, which will see him miss games against 3SC, Sunshine Stars and Ikorodu United.

Speaking further he explained what led to his three-match suspension during the 3-2 loss at Niger Tornadoes in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

“We were three goals down and later came back with two goals, at that time the pressure was on Niger Tornadoes because we (Rivers United) we took control of the match and it was obvious that we may level up,” Asekunowo said.

“We kept Niger Tornadoes’ box busier but unfortunately for our host they indulged in time wasting.

“A significant moment was when the ball crossed the line for a throw-in in our favour and I quickly rushed there to pick the ball to throw, but the moment I got there the Niger Tornadoes player held the ball to his chest and refused to let go while he was on the ground. He covered the ball so well such that I won’t get the ball.

“At that point the only option left for me was to get the ball by force off his hands, but in that process the player pretended as if I hit him on the mouth and the referee just showed me a yellow card and a red card even when I hadn’t been issued a card before then.

“I felt a bit depressed but sincerely I wasn’t happy at that incident because the other player wasn’t even cautioned.”