Referees and assistant referees across the country have been issued a stern warning by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), vowing to impose strict sanctions on any match official found culpable of actions capable of bringing the game into disrepute.
The memo that contains the warnings was recently released by the NFF Refereeing Development Committee and signed by Mohammed Ameenu on behalf of the NFF President, and copied to the heads of all league bodies and the Federation’s General Secretary, the federation expressed concern over the inconsistency in officiating standards.
It is noted in the memo’s context that while many match officials continue to uphold fairness and adhere to the Laws of the Game, others have engaged in conduct that undermines the integrity of refereeing and the sport.
On the brink of addressing these concerns, Mr. Ibrahim Musa Gusau, the NFF President has established a Monitoring Committee that will deploy personnel to all match venues across the NPFL, NNL, and NWFL.
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However, it is claimed that the officials of the Nigerian Football Federation will provide direct reports on the performance and behaviour of referees and assistants, with findings expected to inform disciplinary actions where necessary.
The Nigerian Football Federation have urged match officials to demonstrate diligence, honesty, and neutrality in carrying out their duties, stressing that there would be zero tolerance for misconduct.
The memo released state that;— “Referees and Assistant Referees are warned that anyone who disregards these guidelines and acts in a manner that compromises the integrity of the game will not only be dismissed from refereeing but will also be handed over to security agencies for prosecution on charges related to sabotage and match manipulation”.
