The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has suspended two referees following a controversial decision during a game in the ongoing season.
Referee Abdulrasheed Jimoh and Assistant Referee One Adamu Zakari, who were in action during the Matchday 12 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) fixture between Rangers International and the visiting Kwara United of Ilorin, have been axed for wrongdoing during the game played at the Awka City Stadium last Sunday.
Victor Chimezie opened the scoring for the Flying Antelopes in the 40th minute, and the homers held their lead until halftime.
What would have been an equaliser for the Harmony Boys came in the 78th minute of a throw-in, but the goal was later nullified by referee Jimoh following the flag raised by AR 1 Zakari, based on the decision that a “foul throw” preceded the goal.
The NFF’s Refereeing Development Committee (RDC) in a decision dated November 9, 2026, handed an indefinite suspension to the two arbiters for poor handling of the match.
The RDC in a statement, faulted the duo over the decision to have “cancelled a validly scored goal by one of the teams after a purported foul throw”.
“Your action did not only affect the scoreline and outcome of the match, it also brought Refereeing and the game in Nigeria into disrepute.
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“In the light of this, the Refereeing Development Committee resolved that you [Jimoh and Zakari] should be stepped-down, and thus delisted from the 2026/27 NPFL Referees and Assistant Referees,” a statement signed by the secretary of the RDC, Mohammed Ameenu read.
Meanwhile, the victory of the Flying Antelopes in the matchday 12 fixture remains valid.
