Nigeria Leagues
Nigeria Referees Association suspends referee over Katsina vs Heartland controversy
By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde
The Nigeria Referees Association (NRA) has taken decisive action against referee Katar Mohammed following his handling of the Matchday 24 game in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).
Mohammed, who officiated the game between Katsina United and Heartland FC, has been suspended indefinitely by the NRA due to alleged poor performance during the match.
Reports suggest that Mohammed’s decisions during the game were questionable and may have influenced the final outcome. The referee could face further sanctions pending a full review of the match report.
A high-ranking official of the NRA confirmed that Mohammed’s handling of the game raised concerns, particularly regarding certain decisions made during critical moments.
One such decision occurred in the 90th minute when Mohammed awarded a penalty to Katsina United, resulting in a 1-1 draw. This decision came after Heartland FC had been leading and appeared to be on course for their first away victory of the season.
Naldo Ingya Barnabas had given Heartland FC the lead in the 57th minute, setting the stage for what seemed like a potential win. However, Katsina United equalized in the dying moments of the game, leading to widespread controversy and prompting the NRA’s action against referee Mohammed.
