Why NFF, NRA Must Rescue Nigerian football from Doldrums

By: Sunday Agunbiade (Mr VAR)

Consequent upon the flagrant disregard of Nigerian referees from 2023 AFCON and FIFA major tournaments in recent years , it's time for the President of Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau to work earnestly with the President of Nigeria Referees Association, Alhaji Sani Zubair and Chairperson of Referees Appointment Committee, Mrs Faith Irabor to make the game of round leather game inspired and beautiful to watch as against the horrible scenarios occurring week in week out in Nigeria leagues.  

Two gentlemen against the back backdrop of unsavory scenarios playing down in the top flight of Nigerian football, Mr Churchil and Mr VAR called the attention of the nation's football regulatory body to put our arbiters in same stead with their colleagues in global best practices. The two have these to say:

"I think the present NRA is not ready for major tournaments I beg. They are contented with Zonal competitions like CAF Confederation Cup and champions league games. 

If Nigeria as claimed the giant of Africa and our referees are yet to be wearing ordinary communication gadget at the match venue at this 21st century, then, something is fundamentally wrong with our system. Imagine, our referee will have to come and talk to their Ar1 &2, fourth officio and others to make certain decisions. At the end of the day, it's the centre referee that will get punished"

"Let's take the matter at Muhammadu Dikko Stadium in Katsina during Katsina United against Abia Warriors;"

"Katsina United Vs Abia Warriors-Matters Arising.

"There are two major incidents or talking points in the above mentiond match played at Katsina on Sunday the 24th day of March 2024 from the perspective of a referee.

One is the signalling or whistling for the stoppage of play before a goal is scored and the other is awarding a goal and disallowing or changing the decision.

The ball is said to be out of play when (1) it has wholly passed over the goal line or touch line on the ground or in the air, (2) play has been stopped by the referee.

Thus, at or by the time Obi of Abia Warriors kicked the ball passed the goal keeper to score, the referee had sounded the whistle to stop play.

Curiously and inexplicably, the referee went ahead to point at the center signalling that a goal has been scored.

Curiously yet again, probably from pressure from the home team and the unusual and curious intervention of the match commissioner and the match assessor, the referee changed his decision to award the goal.

The questions at this point are-whether a goal can be scored when the referee has signalled, whistled to stop play? Whether the referee can disallow or change a decision to award a goal. And thirdly, whether a match official or officials can advice a referee to disallow a goal?

Law 9 of the Laws of the Game provides for the occasions when the ball is in and out of play. According to the said law, the ball is out of play when play has been stopped by the referee.

Then can a goal be scored when play has been stopped by the referee? The answer is negative.

Can a referee disallow a goal scored? Law 5 of Laws of the game provides that "the referee may not change a decision on realizing that it is incorrect or on the advice of another match official if play has restarted or the referee has signalled the end of the first or second half...and left the field of play or terminated the match"

Thus, the referee can disallow a goal provided that the match has not been restarted or the ref has not  signalled the end of first or second half or end of the match.

Furthermore, the said law provides that the referee may change his decision or disallow a goal "on the advice of another match official" if play has not restarted.

Who are the match officials as contemplated by the Laws of the Game. Each match is controlled by a referee who has the full authority to enforce the Laws of the Game...(see Law 5). Other match officials as contemplated by the Law include assistant referees, fourth official, two additional assistant referees and reserve assistant  referee.(Law 6).

Therefore the match commissioner and the match assesor do not fall into the category of match officials and therefore cannot advice the referee to change a decision taken in the course of the game. The duties of the afore mentioned duo are ancillary or auxillary to the game.

The referee in the Katsina-Abia Warriors match was undone by his eagerness to "deliver" the match to the home team. In a bid to justify the "PR", he stopped a promising attack that led to a goal being scored. Changed his mind within a split of a second on realizing that a "good" goal had been scored. However the deed had already been done when he stopped play.

I believe the referee did not believe that Obi will bulldoze his way into the opponent's  18 yards despite being fouled and the referee playing the advantage. The referee found himself between the rock and a hard place.

CONSEQUENCES

The referee has been rightly suspended. But does that meet the justice of the case? I think not.

The match commissioner and match assesor should and ought to be suspended for interfering in the course of play 

and thereby bringing the game to disrepute.

Furthermore, it is also suggested that the home team should be sanctioned for intimidating, harrassing and haranguing  the referee to change his decision.

Further, the clip of the game should be referred to a commitee made up of the technical  and referee members to look at the facts connected to the game and deliver decision which will lead to either replay of the match on a neutral ground or share of the points or awarding the against the home team as a punitive measure against teams that intimidate, harras match officials or connive with match officials to win a match by every means possible.

Suspending the referee only cannot assuage the pain, agony, disappointment suffered by the away team, Abia Warriors FC.

The NPFL should as a matter of urgency save the league from the unholy alliance beween the match officials and the referees.

A special committe to look into and interfer in matches that are inconclusive or which ended in bizarre circumstances should be set up. This will ensure that matches are not won by home teams outside the laws of the game."

*Chukwuemeka Churchill Esq. Grade 1 referee (rtd)*

*Anciliaried by Sunday Agunbiade (Mr VAR)*