Attack On Referees Will Scare League Investors -Tade

Tade Azeez,NRA Boss

Against the backdrop of recent physical assault meted to some Nigerian referees as the country's major leagues reached closing stages, the president of the Nigerian Football (Referees) Association, NRA,  Tade Azeez has warned that such indecent trend is capable of  ruining the chances of getting worthy sponsors for the leagues.

Addressing newsmen at the end of the Full Executive Meeting,( FEM) of the NRA in Zaria, Kaduna State,Tade noted that the return of hooliganism in Nigerian match centres where irate fans and unruly club officials attack referees at will is in contrast to efforts  being made to boost the domestic league through sponsorship.

According to Tade, such unwarranted acts will be inimical to the growth of the league system in Nigeria adding that all stakeholders should join forces to halt the sad development.

Said he "it is unfortunate that at the end of a good season that Nigerian referees recorded impressive performances, those I refer to be the real enemies of Nigerian football chose to damage our successes by way of attacking our members when results of matches are not in favour of their favourite side.

"In the premier league, matches went on smoothly from the beginning of the season till week 34 when trouble started because the league has few matches to go and clubs are desperate to either win the title or survive relegation. Therefore, in their bids to resist the away wins and draws witnessed earlier during the season, decisions of referees are being taking in bad faith. And it gives room to unsporting behaviours. But such indecent approaches are not good for the good of the game especially on the campaign for sponsors" Tade added

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At the end of the meeting which involved members of the National Executive Council and Chairmen of the state councils of referees, far reaching decisions geared towards provisions of better refereeing climate were recorded. Chief among them was the restructuring of recruitment and training of referees in tandem with FIFA and CAF standards which focus on recruitment of young referees and information technology dominated teachings.

While stating that it will not tolerate acts from members which are not inconformity with the association's desire to make Nigeria's football move forward, the NRA however expressed reservation over sanctions handed to some referees by concerned bodies this season. The arbiters' body opined that there is an appropriate body, the Nigerian Football Federation, NFL Referees Committee armed with the technical know-how to determine misconduct on the part of any suspected erring referee and the appropriate punishment than football organising bodies.

To facilitate the growth of referees and Football at the grassroots level, the FEM of NRA okayed the creation of societies to those willing and met constitutional guidelines.

The meeting did not end without appreciating the support from the federation, who the NRA disclosed,  backed several capacity building workshops in and out of the country, as the arbiters' body further revealed that the last batch are yet to jet into UK for the training tour.