FIFA’s Badge Referees To Handle Nigeria League Matches

Chairman referee committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Muazu Suleyman has declared that only FIFA-badged referees will be listed to handle all matches designated as ‘star matches’ of the Nigeria top flight league. This according to him is to ensure free and fair officiating that will be devoid of winning at all cost by the home teams. He said this will also help expose Nigerian referees to the whole world,  world soccer ruling body, FIFA and Confederation of African Football (CAF) who have never seen anything good about the Nigerian referees to be considered for Nations Cup and World Cup matches.
Speaking at the official badging ceremony of Nigerian FIFA referees for the Year 2013 season in Abuja, Suleyman said allowing Nigerian FIFA badge referees to handle high profile Nigeria league matches would make FIFA and CAF to see them live on television and appreciate their quality and give them more important assignments.
He directed Nigeria’s League Management Company (LMC) to furnish NFF referee committee secretariat with fixture of all the star matches. “Sometimes league body will not even let us know which ones are star matches. Henceforth, the league management has to provide us fixtures of all the star matches of the season,” he said.
A total of 28 Nigerian referees received FIFA badges in various categories for the 2013 football season. Among those awarded FIFA badge were six center referees, seven assistant referee, three women centre referees four assistant women referees, four beach referees and four Fusal referees.
Speaking further, Suleyman challenged the referees to strive harder in their assignments in order to be accorded bigger duties by FIFA.
“That the Nigerian referees are not getting the kind of recognition that is deserving of the stature of Nigeria in international football is not because you people are not good but you have to do more.
“While the Nigeria Football Federation continues to make case for Nigerian referees to be assigned more international duties than they are presently considered for, it is also pertinent upon you the referees to help this campaign with your conduct before, during and after matches.
“This badge is sacrosanct. It is not to be defiled through improper conduct, graceless carriage, irresponsible behaviour and uncouth utterances. It is to be respected and treated with honour and deference,” he stated.