LMC to throw out 12 referees over poor officiating
The League Management Company (LMC) has written to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) requesting the exclusion of 12 referees from further officiating of NPFL matches pending investigations into their respective performances in recent matches.
The 12 match officials are made up of four center referees and eight assistant referees who officiated in fixtures of Match Day 33, 34 and 35. The matches are Match Day 33 in Makurdi between Nasarawa United and Rangers International, match day 34 fixture in Umuahia between Abia Warriors and FC IfeanyiUbah, match day 35 in Nnewi between FC IfeanyiUbah and Akwa United and that in Lokoja between Niger Tornadoes and Enyimba.
In the letter to the NFF President, the LMC disclosed that it would engage the leadership of the NFF Referees Committee and the Nigeria Referees Association (NRA) to address perceived lapses that are capable of casting the game in disrepute.
It further noted that the LMC in asking for the exclusion of the match officials from further participation in NPFL matches did not intend to pass any form of judgment “until the relevant regulatory bodies have had an opportunity to review material evidence which we would make available at the consultative meeting, we are compelled by the exigency of time”.
The League body also explained that it had become necessary to take the step in response to overwhelming concerns from all NPFL participating clubs and interest from all stakeholders and the need to protect the competition.
