Owumi: IMC Plans To Introduce Gadgets For Match Officials

Owumi: IMC Plans To Introduce Gadgets For Match Officials

Ibraheem Lateef

The Interim Management Committee (IMC), Head of Operations, Davidson Owumi says the body has put quality officiating of matches as top on its agenda, as it plans to improve refereeing in the Nigeria Premier League next season, reports BSNSports.com.ng.

Officiating has been a challenge in the nation's domestic league, as it got to its lowest ebb a few seasons ago.

Things took a twist this season with the Nigeria Football Federation taking a stance on refereeing, naming Faith Irabor, a former FIFA-certified referee and CAF Referee Instructor, as the head of the Referees' Committee.

Owumi, at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, the venue of the NPL Super 6 said: "Officiating is one of the game aspects we plan to improve on.

"Plans are in the pipeline to introduce the use of communication gadgets to assist our match officials in carrying out their duties optimally.

"In top leagues of the world, they know these match officials are prone to errors as they are human too, that's why the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) and other communication devices are been used in matches.

On his candid assessment of the playoff in Lagos.

"The Super 6 has been interesting, NPL fans are delighted to see this happen and are catching a glimpse of the teams as they slug it out for points.

"Not taking anything away from the main actors, they are getting commendation from fans in and outside Nigeria, going by the quality of play and results recorded so far."

"Despite the tight fixtures, the clubs are given their best, I'm not rooting for any team, as the six of them deserve to be here, so I wish them the best as we near the climax."