Football
The Nigeria Football
Federation has sent out a strong warning to all officials who would be assigned
for matches of the 2017 AITEO Cup competition starting on Wednesday to perform
creditably or have their names permanently struck off the list of arbiters in
the country.
Speaking after his
committee’s meeting in Abuja on Monday, Chairman of the NFF Referees Committee,
Alhaji Ahmed Yusuf Fresh said that any referee found wanting would
not only be thrown out of the vocation but could also face prosecution.
“The NFF Referees
Committee has decided to go tough on erring referees. For several years, we
worked very hard to try and get sponsors for the oldest football competition in
this country, but could not for one reason or the other. Now that we have one
in AITEO, we will do everything humanly possible to guard that relationship
jealously.
“Any referee found to be
involved in any shenanigan, or deemed to be outright incompetent or
mischievous, will be summarily dealt with. We are tired of complaints about
referees. We are ready to throw out as many as are found culpable, and will be
ready to have only few competent and self –respecting persons take charge of
matches,” Fresh stated on Monday.
The NFF Executive
Committee member also informed thenff.com that only Nigeria’s FIFA –badged
(international) and elite referees would be handed shifts in the AITEO Cup
competition beginning from Wednesday.
“Only the FIFA referees
and elite referees would be involved. No National League or Nationwide League officials.
We want the best arbiters available to take care of the matches and give
credibility to the competition.
“The glamour of this much
–loved competition must return in full force and in even greater glory.”
Meanwhile, the Organizing
Committee of the AITEO Cup has empathized with players and officials of Akwa
United FC of Uyo, who were involved in a road mishap on the Umuahia-Enugu road
on Monday, on their way to Hadejia for a Round of 64 clash with Halfa FC of
Jigawa.
“We want to sympathize with
the Akwa United delegation involved in the mishap on their way to Jigawa State.
As a result of this, we have resolved to move their match against Halfa FC to
Thursday,” NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, who is also secretary of
the Committee, told thenff.com.
Also on Monday, the
organizers moved the clash between Bayelsa United FC and FC Zamfara, earlier
slated for Port Harcourt, to Nembe Stadium, just as the match between Ngwa FC
of Ebonyi and FC Galadima of Kebbi will now hold at the Abakaliki Township
Stadium. Organizers passed the two stadia fit to host the matches, which will
come up on Wednesday.
The clash between Yobe
Desert Stars and Kano Pillars will now take place in Damaturu on Thursday, 24th
August.
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