News
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has suspended referee Abdulrasheed Jimoh and assistant referee Zakari Adamu indefinitely after ruling that a Kwara United goal was wrongly disallowed in their 1–0 defeat to Enugu Rangers.
The NFF Refereeing Development Committee sanctioned both officials over the cancellation of what it described as a “validly scored goal” in Sunday’s Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Matchday 12 fixture at Awka Township Stadium.
Rangers took the lead five minutes before half-time when Victor Chimezie received a pass from Pius Igwe and scored from a tight angle. Kwara United appeared to have equalised in the 78th minute through Alex Jerry, but the second assistant referee raised his flag for an infringement and the goal was ruled out. Rangers held on to take all three points.
It was the second indefinite suspension this season over a wrongly disallowed goal. In September, the NFF suspended assistant referee Yakubu Aliyu after finding that he had failed to follow offside guidelines, including the procedure requiring officials to wait before raising the flag, in Doma United’s Matchday 3 fixture against Enyimba.
Doma United won that match 2–0, but the committee said Aliyu’s decision had affected the scoreline and outcome and brought refereeing and the game in Nigeria into disrepute. He was removed from the league’s list of match officials.
The latest suspensions follow several disputed calls in recent NPFL seasons, including disallowed goals, contested penalty decisions and missed infringements during spot kicks. The recurrence of such incidents has raised questions about whether suspensions alone can improve officiating, and whether more referee training and closer assessment of match performances are needed to ensure the Laws of the Game are applied consistently.
