|By Christopher Ayeni
NFF Suspends Three Referees Over Poor Officiating in NPFL
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has suspended three referees from officiating in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) over what it described as unprofessional performances during recent league matches.
In a statement signed by the Secretary of the NFF Referee Development Committee, Ameenu Mohammed, the affected officials; Mohammed B. Tuta, Ben Japhet, and Ikechukwu Taiwo; were placed on indefinite suspension pending further review and participation in mandatory retraining and assessment programmes.
According to the statement, referees Tuta and Japhet came under investigation for questionable decisions during the Matchday 8 fixture between Kano Pillars and Shooting Stars at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano, which led to crowd unrest and violence after the final whistle.
Read also: Maiden Africa School Games Set to Kick Off October 17 in Lagos
Similarly, Taiwo was faulted for awarding an “unjustified penalty” in the league match between Nasarawa United and Rangers International, an action the committee described as a breach of professional officiating standards.
Read also: NSC Boss Dikko Tasks NFF to Secure Super Eagles’ 2026 World Cup Qualification
The committee reaffirmed its commitment to integrity, transparency, and professionalism in the handling of domestic league matches, stressing that any referee found guilty of compromising officiating standards would face strict disciplinary measures.
“The Committee remains committed to upholding the principles of integrity, transparency, and professionalism in Nigerian football officiating. Any referee found to be compromising match standards will face strict disciplinary measures,” the statement read.
The NFF said the decision reflects its renewed drive to restore credibility to officiating in the Nigerian league, especially amid growing concerns from clubs, fans, and stakeholders over the quality of refereeing.
The suspension is seen as a warning signal to other officials, as the federation continues efforts to strengthen discipline, accountability, and fairness within the country’s football officiating system.
