Nigeria Referee Association condemns assault on members

By Saheed Afolabi

The Nigeria Referee Association (NRA), have strongly condemned a recent assault on some of its members in a football game.

In a Nigeria National League (NNL) tie between Edel and Brillars FC, four Nigeria Referees Charwal Wilfred, Asoluku Ihuoma and Uhuegbu Femi were assaulted. This incident comes just few days after another referee was assaulted in the Nigeria Women’s Football League Premiership match between Rivers Angels and Bayelsa Queens.

The referees body moved swiftly to issue a strong statement condemned the actions, stressing that the perpetrators lacked the requisite knowledge of the game and questioned the level of security apparatus at the stadium.

“That the perpetrators lack peripheral knowledge of laws governing the game of football is not in doubt but the attack on match officials in a game that had not lasted up to five minutes could be interpreted as premeditated,” the NRA statement was quoted by Summit News.

“The NRA strongly condemns the incident and questions the level of security arrangement for the match. No reasonable leadership will allow its members to be so treated and the matter swept under the carpet.

“The leadership of NRA awaits the decision and action from the Nigeria National League (NNL), the organizers of the League, which will form part of evidence for any action against the perpetrators of the dastardly act.”