Televised Matches Demand Integrity, NFF Boss Tells FIFA-Badged Referees
New Visibility, Higher Expectations
AS thirty Nigerian referees received their FIFA badges, the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation made it clear that global recognition comes with strict expectations.
NFF President Ibrahim Musa Gusau used the occasion to underline the importance of integrity, particularly as more Nigerian Professional Football League matches are being broadcast live.
He pointed to the recent fixture between Shooting Stars and Warri Wolves, aired simultaneously on roughly eleven television stations, as evidence of the league’s expanding media footprint. Plans are underway to extend live coverage to up to thirty stations before the season concludes.
“With this exposure, your decisions are no longer local,” Gusau said. “They are global.”
Protecting the League’s Image
The NFF President warned that referees who compromise standards risk immediate sanctions, including the withdrawal of their FIFA badges. He stressed that the federation would enforce strict disciplinary measures without exception.
Gusau argued that the league’s commercial growth depends heavily on credible officiating. According to him, sponsors are unlikely to invest in competitions plagued by controversy and questionable decisions.
“Our responsibility is to protect the integrity of the league,” he noted, adding that referees must submit to post-match reviews where complaints arise.
Experience Speaks
NFF General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi reinforced the message of accountability. With decades of experience as a CAF and FIFA match commissioner, he urged referees to pursue excellence and avoid complacency.
“I can tell the difference between intentional misconduct and honest mistakes,” Sanusi said, encouraging them to uphold the highest professional standards.
The badge recipients comprised 11 referees, 11 assistant referees, four futsal referees and four beach soccer referees. Top officials, including Augustine Eguavoen and Babagana Kalli, attended the event.
The ceremony underscored a pivotal shift in Nigerian football: as the domestic game gains broader television reach and international attention, referees are expected to embody the transparency and integrity required in a modern, commercially driven league.
