NFF retires referee over alleged professional misconduct

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), on Thursday retired one of its referees, Mr Abiodun Alaba, with immediate effect.

This is contained in a statement on the federation’s website.

The statement said that the decision was taken after a review of the performance of referees in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) matches in the past two months.

It also said that the committee took the decision as a result of Alaba’s flagrant mismanagement of matches.

“Referee Abiodun Alaba lost absolute control of the NPFL Match No. 223 between MFM FC of Lagos and Shooting Stars of Ibadan played at the Agege Stadium, Lagos, on Sunday, June 19, 2016.

“He was not able to manage several frustrating antics of players during the match in spite of the helpful support from his assistant referees.

“The committee recalled that Alaba was suspended last season from active refereeing for similar lapses,’’ the NFF said.

The federation said that the referee was unable to take full advantage of the opportunities it offered him to improve on his art of refereeing in the past one year.

“The NFF Referees Committee has decided to retire him from active football refereeing with immediate effect,” it said