Sunday Audu, the immediate past Secretary of the Nigeria Referees Association, has asked the Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL, to offer referees better remuneration, so their performances can improve.
In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, Audu pointed that if that happened, match fixing would drastically reduce in the League.
“If they pay the referees well, their eyes will not look at the bribe they are being offered. Their remuneration is still very poor. Imagine a referee being paid N15, 000 to officiate a match in Lagos and he is based in Abia, it’s unheard of.
“The norm is that if clubs perform well, good officiating should complement their efforts but if the club performed well and officiating was poor, it will not speak well of the league. The two have to work together. If one is lacking, the other one won’t achieve its aim. Security also cannot be over emphasised for a credible league.
He however commended the NPFL for providing adequate security for match officials at games.
“As it is now, the security of referees is commendable, but it can be improved upon,” he stated.
Audu also said there was no basis for comparison between the standard of the NPFL and what is obtainable in Europe, South America and other parts of the world.
He said: “Even though the league is faring well, we cannot compare it to the European and South American football leagues. We can’t compare our league with those of developed countries, but in Africa, Nigeria is number one, followed by, maybe, South Africa.”
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