NFF warn referees, club owners against match fixing as NNL set stage for new season
By Daniel Agada, Jos
The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), has warned referees and club owners against match fixing as the Nigeria National League (NNL) new season set to kick off soon.
The Nigeria football Apex body said any club owner or referee caught in an act contrary to the provisions of the instant laws guiding football, NFF will left with no any other choice than to revoked license of such erring club or referee.
NFF president Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau throw the words of cautioned at the 14th edition to the NNL annual general meeting, AGM, held from Friday 29th to Saturday 30th, September, 2023, in Jos.
Gusau who was been represented AGM meeting by NFF board member, Mrs Margret Icheen said, Nigeria National League is the bedrock of football in Nigeria because from here you have professional league. “And once the foundation has been we have a better and quality premier league in Nigeria.
“It is no longer going to be a business as usual where club owners buy matches for their clubs. Now the team owners and coaches were trained, and the referees are under watch and if they do anything contrary to their primary assignment they would revoked their license.
“Club owners should make sure their players are comfortable so that they can have a better result.”
Plateau State Governor, Barr. Caleb Mutfwang, represented by the commissioner of Youths and sports, Bashir Lawandi Dati revealed that the hosting of NNL 14th edition annual general meeting is a clear attestation of Mutfwang’s administration effort towards repositioning sports and youths empowerment in the state.
He said government would continue intensifying support for Plateau United, Mighty Jet and grassroot football.
George Aluo, chairman of NNL mentioned that the management of the NNL nunder his leadership resolved to work with all stakeholders to move the game of football forward, “uphold the integrity of our football and to making NNL the most important League in Nigeria.
” We are open to constructive criticisms and advise that will come from the fountain of your indispensable knowledge in the game of football administration.
“We shall open up friendly and robust discussions with the Nigeria Referees Association and the match commissioners on the best approach to adopt in order to stop the menace of bad officiating in our league matches”, he stated.
On how prepared clubs are for the start of the new season, the president of National Association of Club Owners of Nigeria, Hon Chidi Okonkwo said all the 40 clubs are ready.
“I think talking about the rules last season because if you noticed there less problem, less confusion in terms of officiating and fans and I hope this season would be better than last season.”
