Poor Officiating: NFF wields hammer on 14 NPFL referees

By Saheed Afolabi

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have wielded their big hammer on 14 referees for poor officiating in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).

The NFF referees development committee made known to the public about their decision to suspend the referees for giving the indigenous league a wrong image.

The committee said the affected referees were suspended until the cases have been evaluated to determine if their actions were committed knowingly.

They pleaded with the public to assist them with the complete videos of the referees in order to give a satisfactory judgement.

“We’re obliged to step down the specifically affected match officials in the line of decision in such instant cases until when the appropriate technical evaluation of such decisions are determined to be either right or wrong.

“Further more, the committee would very much appreciate if the full video of these matches are provided to the committee for proper evaluation of decisions and performances of these officials.”

The affected matches and officials include:

i. Niger Tornadoes vs Rivers United (Matchday 2) – Referee Bawa Buhari (GM)

ii. Niger Tornadoes vs Bayelsa United (Matchday 4) – Referee Chukwuka Jahlove (AN) and Assistant Referee Akinwale Tomiwa (OY)

iii. Sporting Lagos vs Niger Tornadoes (Matchday 5) – AR II: Zachariah Nde (DT)

iv. Gombe United vs Plateau United (Matchday 5) – Referee Saeed Abdulaziz (KT) and Assistant Referee Jimmy Aimugbonrie (ED)

v. Kwara United vs Sporting Lagos (Matchday 6) – Referee Brown Ebenezer (AB) and Assistant Referee Atuwho Morrison (DT)

vi. Sunshine Stars vs Abia Warriors (Matchday 6) – All four officials

vii. Bendel Insurance vs Remo Stars (Matchday 7) – Referee Imamu Maliki U. (KN) and Assistant Referee Sunday Azi (PL).

Nigeria referees image have been tainted overtime with reports of substandard officiating which have caused them to be ignored at ‘A’ list tournament.

After match day six of the NPFL, Lobi Stars tops the table with 14 points from seven matches and they are closely followed by Enugu Rangers and Shooting Stars with 13 points.

While, the haul of 17th placed Akwa United, Niger Tornadoes, Bayelsa United and Heartland are in the relegation waters.