NFF Approves Refs Committee Decision To Withdraw 8 Match Officials From NPFL, NWFL Matches

Faro Abdulrahman has become one of the first casualties of the Nigeria Football Federation’s (NFF) zero tolerance on poor officiating, as the Lagos State Refere has been suspended indefinitely from officiating in the Nigeria Premier Football League by the Referees Committee.

This follows a controversial decision by him (Faro) to rule out a legitimate goal scored by Niger Tornadoes against Rivers United in a Matchday 3 clash.

Rivers United, went on to seal all 3 points with a 2-1 win over Tornadoes at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt.

After the evaluation of the report and sanctions meted Faro and seven others by the Referees Committee headed by Mrs Faith Irabor, the match officials are hereby withdrawn from the domestic league this season.

In the evaluation of the Rivers United vs Niger Tornadoes match handled by Faro, the committee noted that after a corner kick was taken, the ball travelled into the penalty area with the defending goalkeeper coming out and attempting to parry the ball away, which he missed and an attacking player kicked the ball and scored. The referee signalled for an infringement to disallow the goal.

The committee explored the video clip thoroughly to observe that: There was no illegal contact that could translate into a foul by the attacking team.

The decision of the referee to disallow the goal is not within the provisions of the laws of the game, and therefore, unjustified.

In its decision, Referee, Faro Abdulrahman is to be stand-down from the league.

In the game between Shooting Stars and Kwara United Otuwho Morrison, Assistant Referee 2 from Delta State was axed for his poor judgement.

The committee said it was observed that during a build-up, which resulted in a goal, the AR 2, Otuwho Morrison signalled to penalise the scorer for an offside offence. The referee complied with his AR to disallow the goal.

After proper examination of the clip, it was inferred that: As at the time the ball leaves the leg of the kicker (teammate of the scorer), the scorer was not in an offside position;

The AR2 was not properly positioned to justify the decision to penalize the scorer for the offside offence. Morrison is to be stood down from the league.

In the Nigerian Women’s Football League match between Rivers Angels and Delta Queens, which was characterized by controversial/questionable decisions that had adverse effects on the outcome of the match, the committee however considered that the impact of the decisions of Match Officials in the other reviewed matches was not serious enough to warrant punitive measures.

Rivers Angels vs Delta Queens, 

Adesola Olufunke, Oyo, Referee Abdulrasheed Rofiat, Oyo, Assistant Referee 1 Aladenika Adetutu Assistant Referee 2.

The committee observed that two goals of Delta Queens were disallowed by the Referee, Adesola Olufunke and her active Assistant Referee 1, Abdulrasheed Rofiat.

The committee noted that: In an attack towards the penalty area of Rivers Angels, the defending player attempted a scissors kick and missed the ball.

None of the two attacking players near the defending player committed no offence.

The claim of the referee that there was a foul/pushing is unfounded and therefore, her decision to disallow the goal unjustified with the Laws of the Game.

The decision, referee Adesola Olufunke is to be stand-down from the league.

Other cases came up from week 5 of the NPFL, which include the following matches and officials, Rivers United vs Wikki Tourists, Taiwo David, Oyo, Referee, Charles Isua, Adamawa, Assistant Referee 1 and Akinsanya Segun, Oyo, Assistant Referee 2.

The decision of the three (3) Match Officials is to be stand-down from the league.

In the Lobi Stars versus Sunshine Stars game, Promise Amadi, Rivers, Referee and Lewis Gwatana, Rivers, Assistant Referee 2, decision, the Referee and the Assistant Referee 2 are to be stand-down from the league.

It would be recalled that during the inauguration of the NFF Referees Committee, the President, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau had implored them to be of good character and to live up to the ethics of their profession.

As a further step, Alhaji Gusau had handed the General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi the task of always putting a call through to all referees on arrival at their assignment venues, to remind them to discharge their duties efficiently and about the sanctity of fidelity to the laws of the game.