AITEO Cup: NFF reads riot act to match officials

The Nigeria Football Federation has sent out a strong warning to all officials who would be assigned for matches of the 2017 AITEO Cup competition starting on Wednesday to perform creditably or have their names permanently struck off the list of arbiters in the country.

Speaking after his committee’s meeting in Abuja,zq  Chairman of the NFF Referees Committee, Alhaji Ahmed Yusuf Fresh told thenff.com that any referee found wanting would not only be thrown out of the vocation but could also face prosecution.

“The NFF Referees Committee has decided to go tough on erring referees. For several years, we worked very hard to try and get sponsors for the oldest football competition in this country, but could not for one reason or the other. Now that we have one in AITEO, we will do everything humanly possible to guard that relationship jealously.

“Any referee found to be involved in any shenanigan, or deemed to be outright incompetent or mischievous, will be summarily
dealt with. We are tired of complaints about referees. We are ready to throw out as many as are found culpable, and will be ready to have only few competent and self –respecting persons take charge of matches,” Fresh stated on Monday.

The NFF Executive Committee member also informed thenff.com that only Nigeria’s FIFA – badged (international) and elite referees would be
handed shifts in the AITEO Cup competition beginning from Wednesday.

“Only the FIFA referees and elite referees would be involved. No National League or Nationwide
League officials. We want the best arbiters available to take care of the matches and give
credibility to the competition.

“The glamour of this much –loved competition must return in full force and in even greater
glory.”