Joel AJayi
Chairman of Nigeria Football Federation’s Referees Development Committee, Mrs Faith Irabor, has promised improved officiating at the 2024/2025 Nigeria Premiership Football League ,NPFL.
Mrs Irabor gave the assurance on the sidelines of the Cooper test and training for referees, yesterday in Abuja at the Moshood Abiola stadium.
Irabor said that the changes in officiating would be in the area of off-side and handball.
“It is only a deliberate handball that will be penalised. This is because if the ball hits the hand that is in its natural position, no foul will be given.
“If you watched the European Championship, you will discover that the referees did not punish players for handballs that are not deliberate.
“So the training among others is to educate the referees that when the hand is in its natural position and the ball hits it, the rule of the game has not been violated”, he said.
The Irabor said that the essence of the test was to ensure that the referees are at alert mentally and physically to be able to make the best of decision.
She said that Referees that were fit were dropped in the Batch A training of the referees which started on Aug. 19.
According to her, about 80% of the referees that participated in the first batch of the test and training passed while 20% dropped.
“The test and training was good in spite that some had to drop, in all, I will say the performance was not bad because 80 per cent were in A group”, she said.
On the welfare of referees, she said that the welfare package of referees has been increased by 100% unlike before.
She said that no referee was being owed his or her wage or indemnity, so the best of officiating is what is expected from them in this season.
