ABUJA – The League Management Company (LMC) has lodged a complaint with the Referees Committee of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) against three centre referees and six assistant referees for poor officiating.
The LMC Chief Operating Officer (COO), Salihu Abubakar, said in a statement in Abuja on Monday that the company found the referees wanting in some of the Glo Premier League matches.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the LMC organises Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), which has the Glo Premier League matches.
According to the statement, the referees have questions to answer over their performances in the league’s Match Day 9 fixtures played on Sunday, May 17.
“The LMC asked the Referees Committee to have the officials stepped down from further games, should they have been appointed, pending the outcome of investigations.
“The match officials are facing allegations of poor officiating, questionable calls and lack of diligence,’’ it said.
The statement said Henry Ogunyamodi of Ondo State and his assistants were being investigated for their role in the match in Nnewi between hosts Gabros International and Sharks FC.
The assistant referees are O. O Awosakin of Ondo State and Justin Takyun of Nasarawa State.
“Also to be investigated are the referees who handled the Wikki Tourists versus Lobi Stars match in Bauchi.
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“They are centre referee Ahmed Dan Zaria from Kaduna State and his assistants Alfa Abdulganiyu from Jigawa and Muktar Ismail from Kano State,’’ the statement said.
It said the other match officials under investigation were those involved in the fixture in Lafia between Nasarawa United and Sunshine Stars.
“The match had Patrick Nworie from Enugu State as centre referee and Iriabor A. of Ebonyi and Ubani Andy from Imo as assistants,’’ the statement said.
It quoted Abubakar as assuring that the LMC would continue to monitor match officials to protect and ensure the integrity of the outcome of the league games.
The LMC COO then appealed to the host clubs to refrain from acts of intimidation and other possible acts which might diminish the spirit of the game.(NAN)
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