THE Nigeria Football Federation has charged the country’s referees and assistant referees to raise their game so that they will not be repeatedly left out of international competitions.
Officiating in Nigerian football has deteriorated in recent years, with allegations of corruption blighting referees’ reputations.
Nigerian referees have hardly been involved on the continental and international scenes for the past few years, and no centre referee from the country has officiated at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.
NFF officials demanded better from the officials during the badging of Nigeria’s 2022 FIFA referees, assistant referees, beach soccer and Futsal referees at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Tuesday.
A member of the NFF Executive Committee and Chairman of the Referees Committee, Alhaji Sharif Rabiu Inuwa, lamented the fact that Nigeria had only one official – an assistant referee — at the AFCON in Cameroon.
“That we could only have one assistant referee at the AFCON is a big indictment on all of us,” he said.
“We are not doing enough as professionals, and we must take this as a big challenge. We are proposing that we have a monitoring team for our referees who officiate internationally so that we can have accurate assessment of how they perform and conduct themselves.”
President of the Nigeria Referees Association Tade Azeez admitted that his men and women must do better.
“Nigerian referees have failed,” he said.
“The NFF has been doing well to provide all the support that we need, and our FIFA and CAF instructors have also been doing their bit in trying to put us in great physical shape. But we have let them all down and we must turn a new leaf and aim for better performances.”
NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, said: “To whom much is given, much is expected. Nigerian refereeing should be at a much higher level by now if the values of discipline, commitment, professionalism and integrity are held sacrosanct. Apart from officiating ability, there are other parameters that assessors look at that you may not be aware of. If you wish to grow, you have to be honest and fair to yourself in all that you do.”
After decorating the referees with their badges, NFF 2nd Vice President/Chairman of the League ManageMC, Shehu Dikko, charged the referees to develop the mental strength and fortitude to overcome their present challenges and any form of handicap, and commit to greater performances and upholding of the highest professional values at home and internationally.
A total of 30 referees, made up of 11 referees, 11 assistant referees, four beach soccer and four Futsal referees received their badges at the occasion.
