Members of the Nigeria Referees Association, NRA, involved in the officiating of the League have been told to maintain free and fair officiating.
General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Dr Sanusi Mohammed informed the referees during the 2023 FIFA Badging ceremony in Abuja on Wednesday that the Federation is not interested in who wins any match but only concerned about best practices in the activities of the arbiters hence it reaches out to match officials for unbiased officiating on match days.
Dr Sanusi Mohammed who was accompanied by the NRA President, Otunba Tade Azeez and members of the NFF Referees Committee led by Rtd FIFA Faith Irabor to perform the exercise stated that good officiating will provide good winners who will represent the country well in CAF Club Competitions.
He said that the Federation will weed out those found involved in poor officiating adding that there is no going back on supporting the league organisers at ensuring better welfare for referees involved in the league.
The scribe of the Nigeria football house noted that the prompt payment and increased indemnities including early release of match appointments are part of the new measures aimed at motivating the those involved to do well.
“The new NFF administration is determined to write a new positive story about Nigeria referees and refereeing. It is always painful to see Nigeria Clubs crashing out of continental competitions so early. Let us tell ourselves the truth; these happen because some of those teams that qualify to represent us in those competitions are somewhat aided one way or the other and not that they merit their qualification. They get exposed when they get to the continental stage.”
While commending the level of officiating so far in the ongoing Nigeria Premier Football League, Sanusi assured that those who have been suspended and summoned for questioning will face stiff sanctions if found culpable.
“It is sad that championship after continental championship, we hardly get to see Nigeria referees listed for action. It makes me unhappy because I know we have some of the best referees in Africa, if not the entire world. You just need to up your game, stay on the right lane, apply the rules strictly and shun undue influences and attempts at compromising your professional integrity.”
Also at the occasion were President of the Nigeria Referees Association, Otunba Tade Azeez; Chairman of the Referees Committee, Mrs Faith Irabor; Vice Chairman of the Referees Committee, Rabiu Gusau; Members of the Referees Committee, Kabiyesi James Odeniran, C. C. Chukwujekwu, Bello Abubakar, Abraham Zakowi and Furo Waziri and; Secretary of the Referees Committee, Sani Zubairu.
