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The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has suspended three referees from officiating in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) following a string of contentious decisions in recent matches.
The affected officials: Mohammed B. Tuta, Ben Japhet, and Ikechukwu Taiwo, were sanctioned by the Referee Development Committee after their performances in Matchday 8 fixtures sparked outrage among fans and clubs.
In a statement signed by the committee’s secretary, Ameenu Mohammed, the NFF said Tuta and Japhet’s handling of the Kano Pillars vs Shooting Stars game “fell short of professional standards.”
Naija News reports that the fixture at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano was disrupted by violent scenes from spectators angered by the officiating.
Referee Ikechukwu Taiwo, who officiated the Nasarawa United vs Rangers encounter, was also suspended for what the committee described as an “unjustified penalty” awarded during the match.
All three referees have been placed on indefinite suspension and will undergo further review and retraining. The committee reaffirmed its stance on discipline and fair play, warning that “any referee found compromising match standards will face severe consequences.”
In a separate development, Barau FC has announced the appointment of Rabi’u Tata as interim Technical Adviser after Ladan Bosso temporarily stepped aside due to family reasons.
The club’s Media Director, Ahmad Hamisu Gwale, confirmed the appointment on Wednesday, adding that preparations are underway for Barau FC’s Matchday 9 clash against Kano Pillars this Sunday. He said more details about the coaching structure will be made public soon.
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