Ayoola Adeleke
The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has suspended the remaining portion of the disciplinary sanction imposed on Bendel Insurance Football Club manager, Kennedy Boboye.
In a letter dated August 10, 2026, signed by the league’s Chief Operating Officer, Davidson Owumi, as obtained by Platinum News.
The reprieve followed Boboye’s written letter of apology and appeal for leniency. According to the NPFL board, his conduct during the intervening period of the sanction, as well as his past service to Nigeria as a player and a technical member of the national team, weighed in his favour during the review.
The board has now elected to suspend the rest of the remaining sanction, though the punishment will be reinstated should Boboye be found guilty of similar misconduct within the next season. He has also been reminded of his responsibility as a role model to players and junior coaches in his capacity as an NPFL club coach.
Origin of the sanction
The suspension traces back to Matchday 32 of the season, following Bendel Insurance’s 2-2 draw with Plateau United at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City on March 28, 2026. The NPFL found Boboye guilty of gross misconduct towards a match official, in breach of the league’s regulations on discipline and fair play.
He was initially handed a 17-match suspension and a N2 million fine. Bendel Insurance were also sanctioned as a club, fined ₦5 million for breaches relating to the incident, and ordered to play their next three home matches behind closed doors, with the league citing crowd-related issues and the club’s overall handling of the situation
Bendel Insurance were also sanctioned as a club, fined ₦5 million for breaches relating to the incident, and ordered to play their next three home matches behind closed doors, with the league citing crowd-related issues and the club’s overall handling of the situation.
Reports at the time also noted that the club had failed to provide adequate and effective security during the match, resulting in unauthorised persons gaining access to restricted areas, and that supporters displayed unsporting behaviour.
Boboye denied wrongdoing after the ban was announced and shared what he described as video evidence contesting the reported incident, while some observers argued the sanction was harsh if the alleged assault had not occurred.
Bendel Insurance’s management, for its part, publicly condemned the coach’s conduct as ugly and unfortunate, and formally apologised to the NPFL and the Nigeria Referees Association.
With this ruling, Boboye returns to the touchline with immediate effect, though he now serves under a probationary warning through the next season.