NRA Supremo condemns bribery, association suspend 18 referees

BY: Abidoye Babatunde

Nigeria Referees Association (NRA) president, Tade Azeez, strongly disapproved of bribery acts after 18 match officials were suspended last week in Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), BSNSports reports.

The association is currently investigating 18 suspects for alleged misconduct after just nine weeks since the start of the 2019 NPFL.

"The referees' body strongly adopts a very serious zero tolerance to corruption and bribe- taking in the system," Azeez said.

"We can be proud to state that in the past four years, there has never been an established case of bribe-taking raised against Nigeria referees both at home and international levels.

"We have issued a statement to that effect, the NRA will come out with verdicts after an appropriate investigation," Azeez told BBC.

"The NRA wishes to state that it is deeply committed to the growth of Nigeria football as it has charged referees to operate within the confines of the League Management
Committee laws and regulations by adhering strictly to accommodation and feeding procedures allowed," the association said.

"Referees shall neither be cowed nor distracted by certain unorthodox antics employed by real enemies of Nigerian football to easily have their way in the system."