Match fixing killing Nigerian football – Ex-referee Chukwujekwu
Amidst recent allegations of match fixing raised by a sportscaster in Ibadan, who claimed that some teams in the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) are colluding to manipulate match results, a former referee, Calistus Chukwujekwu, has delivered a damning verdict: match fixing is deeply entrenched in Nigerian football.
Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan, one of the clubs accused by the broadcaster, has since issued a strongly worded statement denying the claims. However, many followers of the NPFL remain concerned about the possibility of unethical practices tainting the domestic league.
In response to the unfolding scandal—which also allegedly involves Katsina United, Lobi Stars of Makurdi, and newly crowned champions Remo Stars of Ikenne—Chukwujekwu refrained from naming specific individuals but warned that even referees are sometimes complicit in the pursuit of illicit financial gains during matches.
The former FIFA-badged referee, now a referee assessor and instructor at both continental and global levels, emphasized: “Match fixing is a serious crime worldwide because it renders all efforts in the game meaningless. If a referee is caught, the stipulated punishment is a ten-year ban—but that’s being lenient.”
“Anyone found guilty of fixing matches should be expelled from the profession entirely. If there’s concrete evidence of match manipulation, the person should be directed to go into betting instead.”
Chukwujekwu, affectionately known as ‘CCC’ by his peers, warned that match fixing is fast becoming a norm in Nigerian football and urged immediate and decisive action.
“Sadly, the reality is that match fixing is eating deep into our football system. Referees bet, players bet, and no one seems to care.”
“In other countries, these issues are taken seriously. The sooner we start addressing them with equal urgency, the better. That’s the only way our football can become cleaner and more credible,” he concluded.
