The Acting President of the Nigeria Football Referees’ Association (NFRA), Sir Kelechi Mejuobi, has charged referees’ assessors to strictly adhere to the rules and regulations guiding the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) ahead of the 2026/2027 season.
Mejuobi gave the charge at the end of the second day of the NFRA pre-season seminar for NPFL referees’ assessors held at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.
He said the NFRA would engage the league organisers before the start of the season to obtain the rules and guidelines governing officiating, stressing that assessors must ensure referees operate within the prescribed framework.
“We urge our members involved in the NPFL assessorship to imbibe the rules of engagement by the organisers to ensure the impact of the programme is fulfilled,” he said.
Mejuobi said the seminar was designed not only to update assessors on the latest knowledge of the game but also to mentor and tutor active referees in line with international standards.
He urged participants to take the knowledge acquired back to their respective referees’ societies and councils for the development of officiating.
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The NFRA boss also appealed for patience over outstanding match indemnities owed officials from the concluded season, saying the association was engaging the relevant authorities and had received assurances that the payments would be made before the new season begins.
On the safety of referees, Mejuobi warned against unauthorised access to match officials by club officials, particularly at hotels and dressing rooms on match days.
He said the NFRA was working with the NPFL to enforce the regulations, stressing that the welfare and security of referees remained a priority.
“No life of a referee is worth a game,” Mejuobi said, adding that the NFRA had constituted an Ad Hoc Committee on Security and Safety Monitoring to strengthen the protection of officials at match venues.
He also urged referees and assessors to remain optimistic about the new season, particularly with the expected arrival of a new title sponsor for the league.
Mejuobi commended the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and its Referees Committee for their continued training and refresher programmes aimed at improving football officiating in the country.
