Nigeria Referee Association suspends nine Nigerian Women Football League referees

The Nigeria Referee Association (NRA) has suspended three center referees of the Nigeria Women’s Football League (NWFL) Premiership and their assistants indefinitely.

This was revealed in a release signed by the Secretary of the NFF Referees Committee, Sanni Zubair on Monday, January 16, 2023, with the affected centre referees, including Joy Ogunboye from the Ondo Referee Association, Beatrice Paul from the Taraba Referee Association, and Olufunke Adesola from the Oyo.

The match highlight between Delta Queens and Rivers Angels went viral on the social media in which fans believe Delta were allegedly denied two legitimate goals.

A 94th minute penalty for Adamawa Queens against Nasarawa Amazons was another controversial call that caught the attention of the Committee. While Osun Babes vs. Delta Queens was another match in question.

After a careful review of the matches, the officials were found culpable as questionable calls were made in the matches they took charge.

The Assistant Referees involved were also suspended; Olusi Kikelomo, Ajirotutu Esther all from Ondo State, Elizabeth Yunusa Gombe and Wurba Bwulli Ruth from Plateau State, Rofiat Abdulrasheed and Aladenika Adetutu from Oyo and Ondo respectively.

The officials have now been summoned to appear before the Referee’s Committee to answer questions relating to these matches.

According to the release, their suspension takes immediate effect and further punishment or otherwise will come after their appearance before NFF, Referee Committee headed by retired FIFA referee, Mrs. Faith Irabor.