Olympian, Yusuf Alli, has expressed concerns over the standard of officiating in the ongoing 2023 Nigeria Premier Football League. Alli, who is a former long jumper and represented Nigeria at the Olympics, has urged the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) and the league’s Interim Management Committee (IMC) to take urgent action to address what he described as ‘dangerous’ officiating.
Speaking to reporters, Alli said that the standard of officiating in the league has been poor and has left fans frustrated. He added that the situation is also affecting the league’s sponsors and supporters, who have invested heavily in the competition.
Alli called on the NFF and the IMC to take steps to improve the quality of officiating in the league. He suggested that the bodies should provide more training and support to referees and also hold them accountable for their performances.
The Olympian also criticized the tendency of referees to make decisions that appear to favour certain teams. He called for more transparency in the officiating process and urged referees to be impartial in their decision-making.
Alli’s comments come at a time when the Nigerian football community has been raising concerns about the standard of officiating in the league. A number of controversial decisions have been made in recent weeks, leading to protests from fans and players alike.
The NFF and the IMC have yet to respond to Alli’s comments, but it is hoped that they will take his concerns seriously and take steps to improve the standard of officiating in the league. This would not only benefit the league’s sponsors and supporters, but also help to raise the profile of Nigerian football both domestically and internationally.
