Dilemma Of The Nigerian Referee: Sell Your Conscience Now Or Pay with Your Blood!

...no life of a referee is worth any league match in the Nigeria...

Fans allusions that Nigerian referees are B-A-D! "There's no argument, they are so corrupt and most of them do not even understand the simple rules of the game."

Not many are aware of the dilemma of these referees or the situation they go through officiating in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL). It is like the proverbal making choice between the devil and the deep blue sea. You either sell your conscience or be ready to pay with your blood; in a league bedeviled by Home win syndrome.

In case you don't know the meaning of "Home Win Syndrome," It meaning team deploying clandestine  means to win their home game at all cost. The home team offer referees bribe to compromise in the match...and when they refuse, they are threatened and unleash hooligan supporters to beat the referees to stupor.

The referee's job is to enforce the Laws of the Game during the course of a football match. He or she is the final decision-making authority on all facts connected with play, and is the only official on the pitch with the authority to start and stop play and impose disciplinary action against players during a match. But the referee cannot carry out his job successfully, with clear conscience, if he or she is not given adequate protection by the game organizers.

League Management Company (LMC) organizers and regulators of NPFL have been fighting the Home win syndrome with kids gloves...giving sanctions like money fine and suspending the team from playing in their home ground, banishing such erring team to a far away stadium. This may have reduce the incidence in no little measure as we celebrate even when a team go away to win or draw and return back safely. It is like a miracle!
Yeah, the team may return back safely, what about the referees? What has been put in place to make sure the referees return back safely too?

Nigeria Referee Association (NRA) has issued a threat in a statement on Monday January 29, in reaction to two incidences where referees were assaulted and molested in Plateau and Ogun states during Matchday 1 and 3 of the NPFL 2018/19 season, respectively.

In the Week One match in Jos, Plateau State, Plateau United vs Ifeanyi Uba FC, the referees were beaten blue and back by supporters of home side because of the draw at home.

Again in Week Three, NPFL referee was reportedly beaten mercilessly after the game between Remo Stars and Bendel Insurance at Sagamu.

Bethel Nwanesi the referee that officiated the NPFL matchday three encounter on Sunday, January 20 between Remo Stars and Bendel Insurance was attacked by supporters of the home side after proceedings.

While the NRA awaits the decision of the league organisers, the LMC, it has become imperative for the leadership of the referees’ body to once again not only condemn the barbaric act but also urge football authorities in the country to wade into the matter because the association is on the verge of asking its members to keep away from the league to avoid being killed by desperate club officers and their rampaging supporters.

  A General Assembly of the association shall meet to take a decision on this matter even as the sanctions placed on Plateau United  based on the earlier resolution that NRA members won’t honour matches on grounds where referees are beaten remains sacrosanct.

 It is obvious that the incidents in Jos and Sagamu, coming early in the Abridged League are ominous signs of bad days ahead for the domestic league, particularly, Nigerian referees taking part in the NPFL, who are at the verge of losing their lives at match venues if scenes witnessed so far from the violent venues are considered.

It is on this note that the NRA who strongly cares for the welfare of its members and believes that no life of a referee is worth any league match in the country is considering keeping away from the NPFL matches to avoid a referee being beaten to death.

 The desire to save the lives of referees forces the NRA to beckon on the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, LMC and so called NPFL/ Club Owners, to as a matter of urgent concern intervene immediately to save the situation.

 The association further called on all stakeholders to preach and work against hooliganism on the league centres to enable the NPFL move forward.

We at GreenHunters Sports International strongly condemn brutality unleash on referees in Nigeria. And for the good of the game, we call on NFF/LMC to fashion innovative ways and to do all they can to eradicate this malaise called Home Win Syndrome.