8th March, 2013
The much awaited Nigerian Professional Football League, NPFL, which kicks off tomorrow across various centres in the country may be heading for another crisis.
Reports have it that angered by the nonchalant attitude of the board of the NPFL towards the welfare of referees, the Nigerian Referees Association, NRA, has ordered its members to boycott league matches slated to commence this weekend.
The NRA arrived at the decision after an emergency executive meeting held in Abuja which outcome was made available to newsmen through its National Publicity Secretary, Serah Jumoke Adebisi, that Nigerian football referees would not honour any league match unless compensation for assaulted referees and outstanding match indemnity owed are paid.
Allsports.com.ng reports that Chairman of the Interim Board of NPFL, Nduka Irabor waded in and pledged to pay up all the outstanding within two weeks.
“The welfare of our members is of paramount interest to the leadership of NRA and that is why we cannot fold arms and watch the backlog of match indemnities being owed by the league. But for the quick intervention of the Chairman of the Interim League Board who pledged to settle it within two weeks, no referee will officiate league matches until such fees are cleared,’’ Adebisi, a retired FIFA referee said.
NRA urged the interim board of the league body to respect and consider the plight of Nigerian football referees, who most times would have to travel several kilometres to officiate matches, while they are owed their rightful entitlements for several months.