How NPFL Stopped Crowd Violence, Molestation of Referees At Match Venues - Gbenga Elegbeleye

How NPFL Stopped Crowd Violence, Molestation of Referees At Match Venues - Gbenga Elegbeleye

By Niyi Busari

Chairman, Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), Gbenga Elegbeleye has stated that stringent measures had to be taken before violence and molestation of referees at match venue could stop, BSNSports.com.ng reports. 

Elegbeleye, in an exclusive interview with www.bsnsports.com.ng in his office in Abuja said: "the standard of officiating is getting better where any team can win anywhere. The syndrome of win at all cost has been erased from league ecosystem. Now, team need to play well to win matches. 

He added, "this season, we have had several teams going to beat the hosts at their backyard. We are happy that the league is becoming what we wanted it to be. But we are not yet where we ought to be but we have improved and continue to improve. We met a volatile football environment where the away team and match officials were not safe when a visiting team won. Fans entered into the pitch, beat referees and attacked players. 

"To stop this, we enforced a stringent measure that in any club home ground, if a referee is molested, crowd violence is recorded, away team are beating, then, such team will lose three points. And you know three points can make a team to win the league and enough to make a team go on relegation. At the initial, they thought we were joking until we took decisions against some teams found wanting like Wikki Tourists, Bayelsa United, Gombe United and even Remo Stars. So, every other team, then, knew that we were serious about it. This forced the home team making sure that the match officials and the away team are safe. 

"The officiating has improved because we have moved away from the time when the home team was in charge of the hotel reservation, transportation and feeding of match officials. This made some referees to be biased in making some funny calls. So when we came in, we had an agreement with GTI the (NPFL Cooperate partner) . We agreed that the referees must be paid a day before the match. And also be responsible for their feeding and accomodation. Also, there is increment in referee emolument. 

As NPFL enters matchday 5 with many teams picked maximum three points on the road, no violence nor molestation of referee has been recorded.