In view of teams knack to deploy suspected hooligans to harrass and intimidate referees either during halftime or full-time, Premier league referees have been advised to avoid the tunnels leading to the Dressing Rooms or the rest rooms proper if their security and safety can’t be guaranteed.
President of the Nigeria Referees Association, NRA,Otunba Tade Azeez gave the charge at a fitness check excercise organised by the NFF Referees Committee to ascertain their fitness level.
Otunba Tade Azeez who disclosed that reports and observations from the centres indicate the new approach of clubs not comfortable to good officiating is the harrassment of match officials at the tunnels leading to the dressing rooms.
“We have noticed that some teams who can’t measure up with the perfect refereeing witnessed so far now think they can subdue referees through such tunnel harrassment. The NRA has gotten assurances from the Federation in this regard and we have directed the referees who experience such not to enter the Dressing Room or walk through the tunnel until their security is assured.
” They should remain on the field of play to avoid being attacked. We are aware that is the tactics of some clubs to subtly go after referees after first half and final whistle. But it has to change now. We have assurances from the LMC and NFF on protection” he added
The NRA President asked the referees to continue with perfect officiating and wished all best of luck including journey mercies.
One of Nigeria’s Women FIFA referees selected by world football governing body to represent Africa in an international seminar in Doha this month, Patience Ndidi Madu of the Enugu state referees council is already in Jos with Usman Abdulahi of Gombe and Egunbiyi Sulaimon ( Assistant Referees) for the Plateau United vs Jigawa Stars game while a policeman, Afolabi Maroof of the Kwara council handles the Ifeanyi Uba vs MFM match as Kano’s Bashir Yahaya and Hassan A of Taraba act as Assistants. The Assessor is Victor Ijeremen.
The match officials on duty;
PLATEAU UTD VS JIGAWA G STARS
AUWALU ALI KN Assessor
PATIENCE MADU EN Referee
USAAU ABDULLIAN GM Assistant Referee 1
EGUNBIYI OY Assistant Referee 2
SUNNY ATU CR Fourth Official
KWARA UTD VS LOBI
ZUMANI USMAN BO
RABIU AHMED KN
FRIDAY FRANCIS BA
KELECHI I IM
ADEYINKA B EK
KANO PILLARS VS DAKKADA FC
DR OBIORA AB
ABDULLAHI ABUBAKAR NG
SHITTU IDRIS OG
SAFIYANU B AD
ORIOHIA C AB
HEARTLAND FC VS RIVERS UTD
GBENGA LATUNDE OS
QUADRI ADEBIMPE LG
ISAH USMAN KT
ABDULGHANEY O KW
LAMIDO YB
IFEANYIUBAH FC VS MFM FC
VICTOR IJEREME FCT
AFOLABI M KW
BASHIR YAHAYA KN
HASSAN A TR
FELAGHA J BY
RANGERS INT VS ADAMAWA UTD
ENG EMIERE ED
OLAYONMBO O OD
DANTALA ISA PL
ZURU BELLO KB
AMGBARI C BY
WARRI WOLVES VS SUNSHINE STARS
H.L QUEEN YB
SHUAIBU U KT
SALIU B S NG
KABIRU ADAMU KD
AWALU USMAN GM
ABIA WARRIORS VS AKWA UTD
BOLANLE S OD
BASHIR SALIHU KN
MOROOF A LG
M PHILIP BN
ABDULLAHI D KG
WIKKI TOURIST VS NASARAWA UTD
ADEBISI SERAH OY
ZUBAIRU A KT
COSMOS OKOYE AN
LATUNDE T OS
IBORDO OVIE DT
