Referees raise security alarm over attacks in NPFL

The Nigeria Football Referees’ Association has raised concerns over the safety of match officials in the Nigeria Premier Football League, warning against rising incidents of attacks, harassment and intimidation as the season approaches its conclusion, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

The association announced the activation of a Security and Safety Monitoring Committee to protect referees deployed for league matches on Saturday, following a series of incidents at match venues in recent weeks.

Acting President, Kelechi Mejuobi, said the move was necessitated by the urgent need to safeguard officials and prevent further breakdown of order during fixtures.

“It has become necessary for NFRA to think and work towards protecting our members at venues,” he stated.

“Recent events motivated this and now the league is about to end, our association cannot wait until the unexpected happens.”

“Our committee on Security and Safety Monitoring Committee has come with procedures that will further enhance the efforts of the NPFL at ensuring security of match officials at match venues.”

He also urged referees to maintain high standards of professionalism, stressing that the association expects its members to conduct themselves with integrity while enforcing the laws of the game.

Mejuobi added, “While we are making collaborative efforts to ensure your security, be good ambassadors by doing the right thing at match venues.”

The NFRA further warned that it would not tolerate any actions by its members that could bring the game into disrepute, even as it appealed to clubs to adopt proper channels in addressing grievances.

“The NFRA shall not tolerate any attempt to attack our referees at match venues,” Mejuobi said.

“We are appealing to clubs involved in the NPFL to use the league organiser’s official channel for complaints against officiating rather than resort to attacks on our referees.”

Meanwhile, several top officials, including Joseph Ogabor, Kaseem Abdulsalam and Nurudeen Abubakar, have been appointed to oversee matches in the latest round of fixtures, alongside assistants such as Usman Abdulmajeed, Abibatu Yusuf and Mfom Friday Akpan.

With tensions rising in the closing weeks of the NPFL season, the NFRA’s intervention underscores growing concerns about the welfare of officials and the need to ensure a safe and fair environment for all participants.