Pre-Season Program; Uphold Rules of Engagement For NPFL Matches, NFRA Urges Assessors -

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Pre-Season Program; Uphold Rules of Engagement For NPFL Matches, NFRA Urges Assessors

Referee Assessors involved in the pre season program ahead commencements of the 2026/2026 Nigeria Football League have been urged to ensure their operations are within the confines of the competition rules.

This charge was given by the Acting President of the Nigeria Football Referees’ Association, NFRA, Sir Kelechi Mejuobi.

Sir Mejuobi, while addressing the participants during the Day 2 program of the Assessors at the National Stadium, disclosed that there are stated rules guiding the operation of the NPFL adding that assessors need to operate within the boundaries marked out for the competition.

The acting President stated that before the beginning of the season the Association shall reach out to the league organisers for the rules and guidelines that will ensure members of the NFRA involved in the officiating stick to it.

“We urge our members involved in the NPFL Assessorship to imbibe the rules of engagement by the organisers to ensure the impact of the program is fulfilled.

“We shall get the rules from the NPFL for our members to ensure referees involved do not go astray” Mejuobi said.

He said that apart from acting as a platform meant to update referees on the latest knowledge of the game, the Assessors’ course is a project designed to mentor and tutor active referees in line with international standards for the good of the game. Mejuobi further urged the Assessors to take the course home and use it for the development of referees both at the society and council levels.

On outstanding Indemnities owed members of the association for the concluded season, the Acting President pleaded with the Assessors and entire referees involved in the league to have patience over the matter as the NFRA leadership is discussing with the authorities concerned about the payment. Mejuobi revealed that assurances available to the association is that payment for the outstanding Indemnities shall be paid before the beginning of the new season. He craved for the indulgence of all concerned while asking for time to enable those in charge to do the needful.

The acting President used the opportunity to inform Assessors not to allow club officials and those not entitled by regulations to have access to referees assigned for officiating on match days, especially in hotels and dressing rooms before, during and after the matches.

Mejuobi said, “we are reaching out on the NPFL to enforce this rule whereby club officials do not have access to referees before matches on match days at their home grounds. We are appealing to the league organisers to remind clubs on this breach. The concern of the NFRA centres on welfare and security of members, hence the need to keep off club officials having access to the dressing rooms before, during and after the matches.

“No life of a referee is worth a game. We need to advocate measures to stop harassment, attacks and unothordox methods against our members at match venues hence we raised an Ad hoc Committee of the Association on Security and Safety Monitoring. When the season begins, the NFRA shall apply the model for safety of referees at match venues hence we need the support of Assessors”

Mejuobi requested Assessors and the entire referees involved in the NPFL to be optimistic of better days ahead with the coming of titled sponsor for the league.

The remark to participants by the Acting President didn’t end without finding out time to appreciate the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF through the NFF Referees Committee for the continuous program of training referees and refresher courses designed to raise the the standard of Officiating in the country.

Mejuobi on behalf of the association wished participants safe travels.