The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has issued a strong warning to referees and stakeholders at all levels of domestic football, emphasizing a zero-tolerance policy towards match manipulation and unethical practices.
With the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), Nigeria National League (NNL), and Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) approaching critical stages, and with the Nationwide League One (NLO) just getting underway, the NFF has expressed serious concern about potential external influences that could affect refereeing decisions.
“The President and the General Secretary of the NFF have instituted a powerful monitoring committee with members deployed to all match centres,” a statement signed by NFF Refereeing Committee Secretary Mohammed Ameenu read. The committee is expected to independently report any deviations from the Laws of the Game or actions that may tarnish the image of Nigerian football.
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The NFF also confirmed that most of the matches will be streamed live, allowing fans and analysts to scrutinize officiating decisions.
The NFF under the leadership of Ibrahim Musa Gusau has moved to stop match manipulation in Nigerian leagues. Ibrahim Gusau (photo credit: The Athletic Images)
“All referees appointed for matches are hereby instructed to uphold the principles of equity, fairness and justice,” the statement continued.
The consequences for failure to comply are severe—officials found guilty of misconduct could face a minimum 10-year ban from football and potential prosecution by State Security Services for match-fixing related offenses.
“You are all warned ahead of time,” the statement concluded.
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The governing body of football in Nigeria (NFF), oversees various leagues, national teams, and grassroots programs. Their sole responsibility is not only to achieve success at the highest levels of the sport but also to harness football’s power to inspire and uplift communities across the country.
