NFF suspends three referees over poor officiating in NPFL

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has suspended three referees indefinitely for offences related to improper handling of matches in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

The sanctions were announced following matchday eight, during which the referees officiated two separate games.

Mohammed B. Tuta of Adamawa and Ben Japhet of Benue, who served as Referee and Assistant Referee 1 respectively in the Kano Pillars vs Shooting Stars game, were punished for what the NFF Referees Committee described as “acting in manners outside the provisions of the laws of the game and bringing the game into disrepute.”

Ikechukwu Taiwo of Rivers State, who officiated the Nasarawa vs Rangers match, was sanctioned for awarding an “unjustified penalty,” according to a letter signed by the Committee Secretary, Ameenu Mohammed.

The NFF Referees Committee emphasized that the actions of the three officials violated established standards of officiating and undermined the integrity of the matches.

All three referees are suspended indefinitely, pending further review or corrective action by the Committee.

The NFF called on all match officials to uphold professionalism and adhere strictly to the laws of the game to ensure fairness and credibility in Nigerian football.