Referees Not Helping Nigerian League – NNL Boss

The Chairman, Nigeria National League (NNL), Emeka Inyama, yesterday identified referees as the major problems facing the growth of the league in the country.

Inyama, who spoke in the wake of increased violence during national league matches, due to unfair officiating, made the remark in an interview with newsmen.

According to Inyama, some of the referees’ decisions during matches were not helping the league; hence, the body would continue to checkmate them.

“The referees are not helping the league at all and we have been speaking with their Organising Committee and we will punish severely any referee trying to drag the name of the league in the mud,’’ the chairman said.

Inyama, who is also the chairman, Media and Publicity Committee of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA), added that changes in the appointment of referees would be made towards the end of the league.

“Towards the end of the league, a lot of innovations and changes will be made; we will swap referees overnight, before their matches.

“We will also bring referees from the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) into the NNL, so that there will be a smooth run, till the end of the league,’’ he said.

The chairman, however, promised that the NNL was working towards increasing referees’ remuneration for an improved performance.

“We are aware that some referees complained that they are paid meagre allowances for officiating, but we are trying to review their take-home.

“What we do normally is to appoint referees based on the proximity of their location to the match venue, to reduce cost, but some of them still complain.

“It is an ongoing process and that is why we are calling for more sponsors for the league, to complement our efforts,’’ he said.

Inyama noted that most of the referees who complained of meagre allowances were the jobless ones.

“Normally, refereeing should not be a means of livelihood; it should be out of the love for the game.

“Referees ought to have their original jobs so that they won’t have to depend on what they get from officiating.

“But, here, many of the referees have no original jobs, this is where remuneration becomes a problem for such people,’’ he said.