NFF reading the riot act as officiating crisis rocks Nigerian Leagues

By Maxwell Kumoye

 

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), has finally slammed its fist on the table and the echo is rattling through every stadium in the country.

After an Executive Committee meeting in Abuja on Thursday, the NFF delivered a scathing verdict on the quality of officiating across all domestic leagues:

❌ The NPFL

❌ NNL

❌ NWFL

❌ NLO 

The NFF described the performance of many referees as “deeply disappointing.”

In a rare public rebuke, the Federation lamented a pattern of incompetence, blatant collusion with club officials, and outright match manipulation aimed at favouring specific teams and private interests. 

And this time, the NFF insists the era of soft warnings is over; even tougher sanctions are coming.

That message couldn’t be more timely.

Only 24 hours earlier in Ado-Ekiti, a storm erupted after Centre Referee Aminat Aliyah ignored what eyewitnesses described as a “stonewall penalty” in favour of Ekiti Queens. 

Instead, her calls repeatedly tilted toward Edo Queens, a sequence of decisions so lopsided it triggered open confrontation between angry fans and match officials.

But instead of the NWFL management launching a proper review of the incident, their reaction only added petrol to the flames, Ekiti Queens and the Ekiti FA were hurriedly punished, sparking outrage among stakeholders who believe the real issue that's questionable officiating is being swept under the turf.

The NFF’s latest statement suggests the Federation has finally had enough of the rot.

With confidence in league referees at an alarming low and tensions simmering in match venues across the country, Nigerian football stands at a crossroads. 

If the NFF follows through with its threats, the real investigations, real sanctions, real reforms in the leagues may yet regain credibility.

If not, the chaos in Ado-Ekiti may just be a preview of what’s coming.