Corrupt NPFL referees to face permanent ban

By Rhoda Etuk

Posted on February 23, 2024

The NFF President, Alhaji Gusau has told referees that they will be permanently banned if they disgrace themselves in the NPFL

At an event where some Nigerian referees were decorated with FIFA badges on Wednesday in Abuja, Ibrahim Gusau, president of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), says the absence of Nigerian referees at AFCON is a real shame and that efforts are being made to ensure the Nigerian referees return to officiating in major continental and global competitions.

“The absence of any Nigerian referee of whatever cadre in Cote d’Ivoire remained ‘an elephant in the room’ for most of us that were in Cote d’Ivoire. It is a real shame that we didn’t even have an assistant referee

“To whom much is given, much is expected. We ensured that the NPFL improved indemnities at the beginning of the season, and I have also instructed the General Secretary to start the process of procuring the necessary gadgets for our referees. But anyone caught disgracing the uniform, the refereeing body, and by extension Nigeria football, will be thrown into a permanent cooler. We want to see you people officiating at top continental championships and we will not sit idly by while some incorrigible ones destroy all that vision.” the NFF president said.

Thirty referees were decorated with FIFA badges: seven men referees, seven men assistant referees, four women referees, four women assistant referees, four beach soccer referees, and four futsal referees.

Earlier, the Chairman of the NFF Referees Committee, Mrs Faith Irabor admitted that the Gusau administration has been very excellent in responding to the demands of referees since coming into office, and promised that all that is necessary will be done to restore Nigerian refereeing to its pride of place in the continent.