Against the backdrop of a renewed desire of some clubs who believe match officials can influence outcome of their matches in the NPFL, the Nigeria Referees Association, NRA has said that referees don’t play ball for any team, rather their duty is to officiate matches in accordance to the laws of the game (Lotg) and competition rules.
While regretting two unsavoury incidents against referees in last Sunday’s league matches, the President of the referees in Nigeria, Otunba Tade Azeez said that it would be wrong for teams to think their glory chase and survival this season depend on the approach of referees to their matches adding that no referee plays for any team.
Said he “football is played on the field of play by the referees and no referee plays for a team. Referees only officiate in accordance with the laws of the game. Teams should play their games and leave the referees alone to concentrate in officiating before, during and after the game”
The NRA President enjoined his members on duty for this Sunday matches not to be swayed by the antics of the clubs in the course of their duties adding that the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF is strongly behind them in the quest for free and fair officiating in the domestic leagues.
All eyes with not only be on the players for the North Central derby in Jos; Plateau United vs Nassarawa United, but also on the refereeing crew led by a seasoned arbiter with more than 12 years officiating experience in the league, Jelili Ogunmuyiwa, a Beach soccer FIFA referee from Lagos, assisted by two FIFA Assistant Referees, Efosa Egudia and Mfom Akpan of the Edo and Akwa Ibom state Councils respectively. The referees will assessed by a retired FIFA referee and senior police officer of the River State council, Solomon Wokoma.
A former Vice President of the NRA, Dave Egho will be on the stands to assess the performances of Plateau state based Mathew Tanimu who will be at the centre with Yunusa Salaudeen and Udoh Emma running the lines in Aba for the Enyimba vs Sunshine game.
In Enugu where Rangers lock horns with Rivers United, another high flying referee from the Zamfara council, Abdusalam Kassim will lead a teacher from Ogun State Council, Akinola Aregbesola and Godem Joseph of Plateau for the encounter. The Assessor is FCDA staff, Tunde Irukera of the FCT Referees Council.
The appointments!
KWARA UTD VS WIKKI TOURIST
YUSUF MUSA JG Assessor
MARWAN BALA SK Referee
NJOKU WILLIAMS IM Assistant Referee 1
UKIRI MATTHIAS DT Assistant Referee 2
AKINSANYA AKINTUNDE OY Fourth Official
IGHODARO J A ED Match Commissioner
KANO PILLARS VS JIGAWA G STASR
J KORINJOH LG
DANKANO ABDULLAHI KG
AKINSANYA SEGUN OY
OTUWHO MORRISION DT
USMAN AUWAL GM
MALLAM ISHAKU YB
HEARTLAND FC VS LOBI STARS
A YAKUBU KN
PAUL UMUAGO DT
SHEHU SAIDU KN
ADENIYI FEMI EK
ISA SANI TR
AGCHE JONATHAN ED
IFEANYIUBAH FC VS DAKKADA FC
ISAH MOHD NS
NURA ABDULLAHI ZM
HINDA SOLOMON FCT
ABDULGANIU ABDULMALIK BA
BABAYANJU SAHEED O
BAMUGBOYE M A OG
RANGERS INT VS RIVERS UTD
TUNDE IRUEKERA FCT
ABDULSALAM KASIM ZM
AKINOLA AREGBESOLA OG
GODEM JOSEPH PL
TIJJANI NDALIMAN NG
OMOLOLA S O LG
WARRI WOLVES VS MFM FC
BOLATITO I KW
GWAUTSA JACOB FCT
IBRAHIM YUSUF KN
NURA ALI GM
IHEANACHO C AB
ABUBAKAR NAGYA NG
ABIA WARRIORS VS ADAMAWA UTD
IBRAHIM B SK
SEGUN OMOWAIYE LG
RABIU NURA KT
LONHUL BANCIR PL
LEVI CHINA RV
BIODUN OLOYEDE OS
ENYIMBA INT VS SUNSHINE STARS
DAVE EGHO DT
MATHEW TANIMU PL
SALAUDEEN YUNUSA KN
UDOH EMMA AK
HANNAH ELIAGWU FCT
BRIGHT OMOREGIE ED
KATSINA UTD VS AKWA UTD
MUSTAPHA BO
SHINA IRANLOYE KW
WINJOBI AYODEJI LA
KINGSLEY NNAEMEKA AB
HASSAN ABUBAKAR TR
IYA EZRA ZUMA NG
PLATEAU UTD VS NASARAWA UTD
SOLOMON WOKOMA RV
JELILI OGUNMUYIWA LG
EFOSA IGUDIA ED
MFON FRIDAY AK
ALIU ISAH JG
ABUBAKAR SADIQ BO
