NPFL: Nigerian Referees set to boycott 2023 kick-off over three-year indemnities

By Wale Mustapha

Barring late intervention relevant bodies, the proposed December 28th set aside by Interim Management Committee, IMC as kickoff date for the 2023 Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL may not be a reality.

The development is coming after the match arbiters, the Nigeria (Football) Referees Association, NRA as regards their unpaid backlog of match allowances.

The IMC have been saddled with the responsibility of managing the NPFL with the aim of reviving it after the scrapping of the League Management Company, LMC by the Federal Government.

Honourable Gbenga Elegbeleye led IMC body are expected to inherit both assets and liabilities from the previous handler including indemnifies of match officials dated back to three seasons ago.

The major stakeholders of NRA are hell bent in truncating any efforts to start a new football league season especially the NPFL without paying them their three years accumulated match indemnities.

A respected member of NRA who pleaded anonymity has revealed that majority of NRA members are determined more than ever before to take their destinies in their hands by boycotting the proposed 2022/2023 football league until their three years unpaid match indemnities are paid completely.

According to the aggrieved NRA members, the association is livid that the IMC have refused to look towards its members who are critical stakeholders in football in Nigeria.

“Referees had not been paid in the last three years, Referees indemnities were not paid for over three years. How can we start a new season with the outstanding three years unpaid indemnities?”.

“The NRA President, Tade Azeez’s tenure would end on 8th February, 2023. Uptill now, nothing has been put in place to indicate whether there would be Elections or NOT.

“How can IMC start a new football season without paying the outstanding indemnities owned the Referees,” the source said.

Rivers United won the 2021/2022 NPFL season.