Referees expelled for poor officiating in Nigeria
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has taken decisive action following a controversial incident during a Nigerian National League (NNL) match between Jigawa Golden Stars and Sporting Supreme. Referee Zaharadeem Nasiru and his assistant Usman Auwalu, who were in charge of officiating the match, have been expelled by the NFF in response to their poor performance.
The decision to expel the referees comes after a highly controversial moment in the match where the referee awarded a goal to Jigawa Golden Stars despite a clear handball by one of their players. The incident sparked outrage among fans, both locally and internationally, and led to widespread condemnation of the officiating.
A viral video of the incident circulated widely, bringing attention to the poor officiating and raising concerns about the integrity of the game. As a result, the NFF has taken swift action to address the situation and uphold the standards of officiating in Nigerian football.
In addition to being expelled by the NFF, both Nasiru and Auwalu have also been banned from officiating matches in the NNL and in general across the country.
This was contained in the memo sent to the referee by the NFF Refereeing Development Unit, the NFF body saddles with the responsibility of promoting and sanctioning of referees in line with their performances.
The decision reflects the NFF’s commitment to maintaining the integrity and credibility of football officiating in Nigeria and sending a clear message that poor officiating will not be tolerated.
The expulsion of the referees serves as a reminder of the importance of fair and impartial officiating in football and underscores the need for accountability and transparency in the sport. Moving forward, the NFF will continue to prioritize the quality of officiating to ensure a level playing field for all teams and uphold the integrity of Nigerian football.
