THE Nigeria Football Federation has stepped down 14 referees from the ongoing Nigeria Premier Football League over poor officiating.
This was made known in a letter issued from the federation’s Referees Development Committee/Unit on Monday to the NPFL’s Chief Operating Officer, Davidson Owumi.
The referees suspended are Bawa Buhari, Chukwuka Jahlove, Akinwale Tomiwa, Saeed Abdulaziz, Jimmy Aimugbonrie, Brown Ebenezer and Atuwho Morrison.
Others are Imamu Maliki, Sunday Azi and the four match officials involved in a matchday six clash between Sunshine Stars and Abia Warriors.
The NFF’s refereeing development unit also requested video footage of the games in which these NPFL match officials performed poorly.
The matches include three fixtures involving Niger Tornadoes and two games of Sporting Lagos.
Niger Tornadoes’ matchday two clash against Rivers United which the host (Tornadoes) won by a lone goal and their matchday four home game against Bayelsa United also ended 1-0 in their favour.
Also Tornadoes’ matchday five away fixture against Sporting Lagos which they lost 2-1.
Sporting Lagos’ matchday six away fixture against Kwara United which they lost 2-1 as well as the games involving Sunshine Stars vs Abia Warriors game.
Other games are Gombe United vs Plateau United on matchday five and the game between Bendel Insurance and Remo Stars on matchday seven.
The letter reads, “We write to convey to you and the entire Board and Management of the Nigeria Professional Football League, the warm sporting regards of the NFF Referees’ Development Committiee members.
“Sir, sequel to the perceived poor performance of the referee/assistant referees in the under-listed NPFL matches, we are obliged to step down the specifically affected match officials in the line of the decision in such instant cases until the appropriate technical evaluation of such decisions are determined to be either right or wrong.
“Furthermore, the committee would very much appreciate if the full video of these matches were provided to the committee for proper evaluation of decisions and performances of these officials.”