Irabor Averts Referees Boycotting League Matches

Angered by nonchalant attitude of Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) towards the welfare of Nigerian, Nigerian Referee Association (NRA) has ordered its member to boycott League matches that had been tentatively slated to commence this weekend but the Chairman of Interim Board of NPL Nduka IraborI waded in and pledged to pay up all the outstanding within two weeks.

The NRA arrived at the decision after an emergency executive meeting held in Abuja which the outcome was made to newsmen through its National Publicity Secretary Serah Jumoke Adebisi that Nigerian football referees would not honour any league match unless monies of compensation for assaulted referees and outstanding match indemnity owed is paid before this weekend.

''Welfare of our members is of paramount interest to the leadership of NRA and that is why we cannot fold arms and be looking that backlog of match indemnities being owed by the league and if not for the quick intervention of the Chairman of the Interim League Board who pledged to settle it within two weeks, no referee will officiate league match until such fees are cleared,'' Adebisi a retired FIFA referee noted.

NRA however, urged the interim board of the League body to respect and consider the plight of Nigerian football referees who most times would have to travel several kilometers to officiate matches, and only to be owed their rightful entitlements for several months.

Akanbi Agiri