1st July, 2012
A whistle-blowing spectator in Bauchi on Saturday prevented Niger Tornadoes FC of Minna from scoring a goal in their 2012 Federation Cup match with Lobi Stars FC of Makurdi.
The drama occurred in the 15th minute of play.
A Tornadoes player in possession of the ball had found his way into the 18 yard box but just as he was about to take a shot, somebody among the spectators blew a whistle in the stadium.Thinking that the whistle was from the centre referee, the player stopped, only to discover that the sound was from somewhere else. The match, however, continued as the referee had not stopped proceedings.
Abutu Jonah of Lobi Stars scored the only goal of the match through penalty kick in the 40th minute of the first half.A Tornadoes player had in the 38th minutes pulled the shirt of a Lobi player, who was in possession of the ball in the 18 yard box.The charge attracted the wrath of centre referee Markus Bauchi, who did not waste time in awarding the penalty.
NAN reports that the match was played after a heavy rainfall in the town, resulting in the stadium been waterlogged.