The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has suspended 14 referees and assistant referees over various controversial decisions since the commencement of the current Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season.
Their suspension was contained in a letter dated November 6, 2023, and sent to the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the NPFL by the NFF Refereeing Development Committee/Unit.
The letter read, “Sir, sequel to the perceived poor performances of referees/assistant referees in the under-listed NPFL matches, we are obliged to step down the specifically affected match official in the line of decision in such instant cases until when the appropriate technical evaluation of such decisions are determined to be either right or wrong,”.
The listed affected officials are referee Bawa Buhari, citing the matchday two fixture between Niger Tornadoes and Rivers United, Chukwuka Jahlove and assistant referee Akinwale Tomiwa, who were the match officials for the matchday four game between Niger Tornadoes and Bayelsa United.
Zachariah Nde, the assistant referee in the matchday five between Sporting Lagos and Niger Tornadoes, is also on the list, likewise Saeed Abdulaziz and Jimmy Aimugbonrie, the referee and the assistant in the matchday five encounter involving Gombe United and Plateau United.
Referee Brown Ebenezer and assistant referee Atuwho Morrison, who officiated Kwara United’s matchday six home game against Sporting Lagos, all the four match officials involved in the matchday six fixture between Sunshine Stars and Abia Warriors in which a late controversial penalty was awarded to the Owena Whales have been suspended too.