NFF Threatens Football Referees With 10-Year Ban, Gives New Conditions
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has warned that any referee caught engaging in match-fixing will face a minimum ten-year ban and possible prosecution.
In a circular dated April 23, 2025, the NFF stated that referees must resist pressure from clubs and agents attempting to manipulate match outcomes.
The circular, signed by Mohammed Ameenu of the NFF Refereeing Development Committee, urged referees across all domestic leagues including the NPFL, NNL, NWFL, and NLO to uphold fairness, equity, and justice.
The Federation announced the formation of an independent monitoring team to observe match venues, with most games being streamed live for transparency.
The NFF stated that manipulating match results outside the official rules would be treated as sabotage and referred to the State Security Services for investigation and possible prosecution.
