14 referees suspended by NFF for poor officiating in NPFL

Due to their subpar refereeing, 14 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) referees have been placed on provisional suspension by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Referees Development Committee/Unit.

Faith Irabor, the head of the NFF’s referees’ development committee/unit, wrote a letter to Davidson Owumi, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the NPFL, on Monday in Abuja, containing this information.

The letter states that the impacted referees’ alleged subpar performances in seven NPFL games led to their initial suspension.

We must remove the especially impacted match officials from the decision-making line in these immediate situations due to the alleged subpar performances of referees and assistant referees in the underlisted NPFL Matches.

It stated, “This is pending when the relevant technical evaluation of such decisions is determined to be correct or incorrect.”

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Niger Tornadoes vs. Rivers United (Matchday 2), referee Bawa Buhari (GM), Niger Tornadoes vs. Bayelsa United (Matchday 4), referee Chukwuka Jahlove (AN), and assistant referee Akinwale Tomiwa (0Y) were among the matches and officials affected.

Gombe United vs. Plateau United (Matchday 5), Referee Saeed Abdulaziz (KT), Assistant Referee Jimmy Aimugbonrie (ED), and Sporting Lagos vs. Niger Tornadoes (Matchday 5), Assistant Referee II, Zachariah Nde (DT).

Matchday 6: Sunshine Stars vs. Abia Warriors; Referee Brown Ebenezer (AB) and Assistant Referee Atuwho Morrisson (DT) for Kwara United vs. Sporting Lagos in all four official matches.

Referee Imamu Maliki U (KN) and assistant referee Sunday Azi (PL) will officiate Bendel Insurance vs. Remo Stars on Matchday 7.

“In addition, the committee would greatly value having access to the entire video of these matches so that it can properly assess the decisions and actions of these officials,” the statement continued.