NFF reads riot act to referees

… sets up monitoring committee to curb officials’ excesses

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) through its Refereeing Development Committee (RDC) has set up a Monitoring Committee to check the excesses of some referees and their assistants who it said have brought the game of football in Nigeria into disrepute through their questionable officiating in the leagues. 

A memo dated 3rd December, 2025  addressed to referees and assistant referees in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), the Nigeria National League (NNL) and the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) titled “Instructions/Warnings To All Referees and Assistant Referees and signed by Mohammed Ameenu on behalf of the chairman RDC and copied to the Chairman/COO of the NPFL, NNL and the NWFL said as part of efforts to curb the excesses and negative tendencies in Refereeing decisions, the NFF President has constituted a Monitoring Committee mandated to deploy personnel to each match centres of the NPFL, NNL and NWFL in order to directly report actions and inactions of match officials for appropriate actions.

The memo added that while the referees are expected to carry out their duties, diligently, truthfully, without fear or favors, anyone who fail to act in accordance with the instructive guidelines will not only be dismissed from refereeing but will equally have his own her day with security agencies for appropriate actions. 

The memo read, “It has been observed that while some Referees and Assistant Referees uphold the principle of equity, fairness and standard interpretations and applications of the Laws of the Game, some have compromised these standard which has brought the game and integrity of Refereeing to disrepute.

“In order to curb the excesses and negative tendencies in Refereeing decisions, the NFF President has constituted a Monitoring Committee mandated to deploy personnel to each match centres of the NPFL, NNL and NWFL in order to directly report actions and inactions of Match Officials for appropriate actions.

“Referees and Assistant Referees are therefore, instructed to carry out their duties, diligently, truthfully, without fear or favors.

“Referees and Assistant Referees are warned that anyone who disregard these instructive guidelines and acted in manners that tend to bring the integrity of the game into disrepute shall not only be dismissed from Refereeing but shall equally be handed over to security agencies for prosecution for sabotage and match fixing.

“Let’s join hands to uplift our leagues and our football through our actions and inactions.

“Best of sporting regards”.

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