In its reaction to dismal officiating in the Nigeria Professional Football League, the Nigeria Football Federation’s Referees’ Development Committee/Unit has resolved to suspend 14 NPFL referees.
Faith Irabor, the Head of the NFF’s Referees’ Development Committee/Unit, communicated this move in a letter to Davidson Owumi, NPFL’s Chief Operating Officer, delivered on Monday in Abuja.
The preliminary suspension of the 14 referees arose over controversial decisions made across seven specific NPFL matches.
The letter highlighted the following matches and officials:
Niger Tornadoes vs Rivers United (Matchday 2) – Referee Bawa Buhari (GM)
Niger Tornadoes vs Bayelsa United (Matchday 4) – Referee Chukwuka Jahlove (AN) and Assistant Referee Akinwale Tomiwa (0Y)
Sporting Lagos vs Niger Tornadoes (Matchday 5) – Assistant Referee II, Zachariah Nde (DT)
Gombe United vs Plateau United (Matchday 5) – Referee Saeed Abdulaziz (KT) and Assistant Referee Jimmy Aimugbonrie (ED)
Kwara United vs Sporting Lagos (Matchday 6) – Referee Brown Ebenezer (AB) and Assistant Referee Atuwho Morrisson (DT)
Sunshine Stars vs Abia Warriors (Matchday 6) – All four officials
Bendel Insurance vs Remo Stars (Matchday 7) – Referee Imamu Maliki U (KN) and Assistant Referee Sunday Azi (PL).
The letter from the NFF’s Referees’ Development Committee/Unit also requested for the video footage of these highlighted NPFL games for proper review.
The suspension of the 14 match officials is to evaluate and review performances of referees in the NPFL this season and beyond.