Fall out of Sportsville award: Why I disallowed seven goals in Abiola Babes, Ranchers Bees FA Cup final -Mbah

Photo: Mazi Linus Mbah (Right) receives his Sportsville award from Nigeria National League (NNL) Chairman George Aluo

Story by George Aluo

Legendary football ref Mazi Linus Mbah has declared that it is only those who are ignorant of football laws that would fault his decision to disallow as many as seven goals in the 1987 Abiola Babes, Ranchers Bees of Kaduna FA Cup final in Lagos.

Mbah,who turned 84 last month spoke at the Sportsville award last night in Lagos where he was bestowed with a Merit award as one of the nation’s Sports Icons.

In his words…”As a referee I interpreted the rules to the letter. Going down memory lane, I had several experiences as a referee but the Abiola Babes, Ranchers Bees game was one to remember. In that game I was accused of disallowing several goals but it had to do with interpreting the laws of the game correctly. One of the disallowed goals was a kick taken by the late Ayo Ogunlana. I raised my hand before he took the kick for an indirect free kick only for Ogunlana to fire the ball straight into the net and I promptly disallowed it. Another was from a corner taken by Ranchers and Raymond King, Abiola Babes goalkeeper was being impeded by one of the Ranchers Bees strikers. When they scored from the corner, I correctly disallowed it. So, it is those who do not understand the laws of the game that went to town with screaming headlines of Mbah disallows seven goals in one match…”

Mbah was full of praise for the organizers of the award night thanking God that he is alive to receive such honor.

”This could have been a post humous award but I give God the glory for keeping me alive and healthy to receive it,” Mbah stated.