NFF warned that referees who compromise the integrity of the game will not only be suspended but permanently removed from the football ecosystem for at least a decade. The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has issued a stern warning to referees across the country’s professional leagues, declaring that anyone caught engaging in match fixing will face a minimum 10-year ban and possible prosecution by security agencies.
This is contained in a circular dated April 23, 2025, and obtained by a popular media platform. In it, the NFF Refereeing Development Committee warned that referees must resist pressure from club officials and agents seeking to influence match outcomes. “It is obvious that all the three Leagues (NPFL, NNL and NWFL) are at critical stage while the NLO will kick-start today, Wednesday, 23rd April, 2025. We are conscious that teams and their agents within and outside the Refereeing as well as the football circles will mount pressure on you in order to court favours for their teams and pay masters,” the circular read.
The letter, signed by Mohammed Ameenu, Secretary of the NFF Refereeing Development Committee, revealed that the NFF President and General Secretary have constituted a high-powered independent monitoring committee to oversee all match venues and report anomalies. “Most of these matches, if not all, will be streamed live and available for all to see and evaluate our performances,” the committee stated, emphasising transparency and accountability.
“All Referees appointed for matches at these stages of the NPFL, NNL, NWFL and even the NLO are hereby instructed to uphold the principles of equity, fairness and justice,” it continued. The Federation warned that referees who compromise the integrity of the game will not only be suspended but permanently removed from the football ecosystem for at least a decade.
“Anyone found to have acted contrarily will not only be suspended but banned from any football activity for not less than ten (10) years as we shall consider this as sabotage of our efforts to ensure growth of the game and Refereeing,” the NFF warned. The statement was unequivocal in its description of match fixing: “An attempt to determine/manipulate the outcome of matches outside the Laws of the game… implies match fixing.”
Beyond sporting sanctions, the Federation also threatened legal action, stating, “Anyone found to have acted in these negative ways shall also be handed over to State Security Services for further investigation and prosecution.”
This development comes at a time when the credibility of Nigeria’s domestic leagues—especially the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL)—is under scrutiny from fans and stakeholders who have long accused the system of corruption, favouritism, and incompetence. The NFF’s warning is seen as a desperate but necessary step to sanitise the leagues ahead of decisive fixtures that could determine promotions, relegations, and titles.
