NFF issues 10-year ban warning, vows legal action in crackdown on match manipulation

By Dayo Awoniyi

In a bold move to protect the integrity of Nigerian football, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has announced strict new measures targeting match manipulation, warning that referees and officials found guilty of misconduct could face a minimum 10-year ban and possible prosecution.

The directive comes as the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), Nigeria National League (NNL), and Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) enter decisive stages, with the Nationwide League One (NLO) set to kick off on Wednesday, April 23, 2025.

According to a statement released by Mohammed Ameenu, Secretary of the NFF Refereeing Committee, a high-powered monitoring team has been set up by the NFF President and General Secretary.

Members of the committee will be stationed at match venues across the country to observe and report any deviations from the Laws of the Game or conduct that could undermine the reputation of Nigerian football.

In an unprecedented show of transparency, the federation also confirmed that most domestic matches will be streamed live—allowing fans, media, and independent analysts to scrutinize refereeing decisions in real-time.

“All referees appointed for matches are hereby instructed to uphold the principles of equity, fairness, and justice,” the NFF stated. “You are all warned ahead of time.”

Officials found guilty of manipulating match outcomes or engaging in unethical behavior could face severe penalties, including lengthy bans and potential legal action involving the State Security Services (SSS).

This decisive action signals one of the most aggressive anti-corruption measures by the NFF in recent years, as the federation seeks to restore public confidence and elevate the standards of officiating across all levels of domestic football.