By Paul Joseph
President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Ibrahim Musa Gusau, has reiterated the federation’s commitment to improving refereeing standards in the country, pledging full support for reforms aimed at sanitising the profession.
Gusau made the pledge on Wednesday when the newly inaugurated executive of the Nigeria Referees Association paid him a condolence visit at the NFF Secretariat in Abuja following the death of the Head of the NFF Refereeing Unit and NRA President, Sani Zubair.
The NFF boss urged the new leadership to adopt firm measures in addressing critical issues such as age limits, computer literacy, and academic qualifications for referees.
He stressed the need to recruit younger individuals into refereeing, suggesting that candidates should ideally be identified from junior secondary school level to allow adequate time for development through the ranks to international standards.
Gusau also highlighted the growing importance of digital competence in officiating, noting that referees are now required to produce detailed reports and must be proficient in the use of technology.
“The NFF is ready to provide support, but these reforms must be formalised through the appropriate structures within the referees’ body,” he said.
As part of ongoing reforms, Gusau disclosed that the federation plans to train at least 10 Nigerian referees on the use of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology before the end of the year.
He paid tribute to the late Zubair, describing him as a dedicated professional who served Nigerian football with integrity and dignity.
Earlier, NFF General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi, challenged the new executive to tackle the recurring issue of poor officiating in the domestic league, warning against undue influence that could undermine referees’ credibility and careers.
Responding, Acting President of the NRA, Kelechi Mejuobi, assured that the association would intensify efforts to reform the system, adding that unethical conduct would attract strict sanctions.
Several stakeholders, including former NRA President Ahmed Maude and other officials, attended the meeting.
Court of Appeal Awards N52m Damages to NFF Official in Defamation Case
In a related development, the Court of Appeal has awarded N52 million in damages to Ruth David, Director of Competitions at the NFF, in a defamation suit against sports publisher Amaechi Agbo.
The case stemmed from allegations published on an online platform, which the court found to be defamatory and damaging to David’s reputation.
In its ruling, the court ordered the defendant to issue a public apology without reservation across multiple platforms, including international and national television stations, a widely circulated Nigerian newspaper, and the online outlet where the publication originated.
The court also directed that a full retraction of the defamatory content be published with the same prominence as the original material across the publisher’s website and social media accounts.
Additionally, the court awarded N50 million as general damages and N2 million as the cost of proceedings, alongside a perpetual injunction restraining further defamatory publications. A post-judgment interest of 10 percent per annum was also imposed until full payment is made.
The ruling is considered a significant legal victory for the NFF official and underscores the judiciary’s stance against defamation in the media space.
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