NPFL: Protect the image of Nigerian Referees – NRA boss

By Saheed Afolabi

President of the Nigeria Referee Association (NRA), Otunba Tade Azeez has urged the referees set to officiate the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) this term to put their acts together and protect the image of the institution.

The country’s refereeing body boss guaranteed that the referees that are to officiate league matches this season will do so in line with FIFA rules of the game and be good ambassadors of the association.

“I expect our referees listed for the season to ensure the protect the image of the NRA at all the centres they are called upon to handle matches,” Azeez told media.

“This is a call to all those listed for the league to note that they are expected to officiate with the rules and regulations of the competition while not forgetting the NRA and NFF integrity clauses.”

Azeez explained that the approach used in choosing the referees to officiate the league this season that only referees who had grade one from 2014 downwards were listed and those that were dropped were caught cheated on age and some who had corrupt practices.

He added more women referees were included in order to promote gender equality to officiate in the NPFL this season and and promoted some referees from amateur to Premier League professional referee.

The vice chairman of Lagos FA assured the referees dropped that there’s no cause for alarm as their services will be adequately useful in other areas.

He urged the referees to ignore clubs destructive ways of winning at all cost as there’s an improve welfare packages for them this season as their match indemnities will be paid promptly this season without delay.