NRA reads riot act to NPFL referees 

Organisers, clubs and other stakeholders involved in the Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL have reasons to be happy in the fast approaching 2017/2018 season. 
Reason is that  the Nigeria Referees Association, NRA has sent out a warming signal to all its members to be upright and  continue to earn the confidence of all, this was contained in a press release by the Publicity Secretary of the NRA, Kelechi Mejuobi. 
It would be recalled that Premier League referees in Nigeria has commenced Pre Season programs to be in proper shape for the January 14 2018 kick off date with those from the Southern part of the country holding medical, fitness tests and seminar in Abuja this week.
Addressing the referees during the refresher workshop at the FIFA Goal Project, Abuja, NRA president, Tade Azeez disclosed that the association will not tolerate any attempt by appointed officials to ridicule the integrity of the body through poor officiating and misconducts. 
According to Tade, the era of mediocre performance and suspected attempts to bring the game to disrepute  will not have a place in the present referee system adding that adequate measures will continue to be employed as corrective measures.
*”There will be no room for any attempt to bring the game to disrepute. These programs are meant to brush up and reform us ahead this coming season. It will be unfair that after this enormous task of build up and seminars, some people through their actions allow the public to mock us. No one who is found wanting will go unpunished” he added.*
While adducing reasons for the recent drop of referees based on age and poor performance, Tade disclosed that the new promotion is necessary not only to give the younger ones opportunity to exhibit their capacity but also inject fresh blood in the system. He asked the new ones to exploit the chances granted them as an opportunity to become the new beacon of elite referees for the NRA. He said that the era of Rerun and anyone who is found wanting in any behaviour in contrast to the spirit and laws of the game  should consider himself or herself out of the Premier League list irrespective of ranking.
The NRA president assured the referees that plans are underway with other bodies to tackle the inglorious act of molest and attack visited on referees during matches.
He wished the referees the best ahead of  the new season.