Following weekly attacks meted to referees at the various centres of all cadres of Nigerian League matches, the parent body, the Nigeria (Football) Referees Association, NRA, is perfecting another plan to withdraw from any of the leagues should the ugly trend continue.
The new posture of the arbiters' body arises from the renewed attack on referees handling matches in the various leagues, by supporters and suspected hired miscreants loyal to some clubs in the country.
According to a statement signed by the NRA president, Tade Azeez and made available to newsmen by the association's spokesperson, Kelechi Mejuobi, the withdrawal will be inevitable since clubs and their officials are yet to overcome the "win at home syndrome" plaguing Nigeria's domestic leagues.
According to Tade in the statement "it has been discovered that these attacks unfortunately come up at the end of games where the results are not favourable to the home teams.
The Association recalls that early this season, a referee was attacked by a player at Nnewi, during the match between Ifeanyi Uba vs Heartland FC of Owerri, prompting the LMC to sanction the offending player and club.
Only recently, the attack shifted to the Nationwide League as referees turned to punching bags of some club sympathisers who brutalised the officials that handled matches in Ekiti and Akwa Ibom states.
The sad development led to sudden pullout of referees from handling Nationwide league matches that weekend. While the dust raised by that brutish act was yet to subside, referees where attacked at the Nnewi hotel used by the home team, Ifeanyi Uba FC, after the drew with the away team, Sunshine, that was after threats at the end of the whistle.
"Just as the punished teams were about to serve their sanctions for pummeling referees in the Nationwide League, another sad incident was witnessed in Offa where fans of the home team, Avalon FC physically maltreated the referees and handed them body injuries.
"Despite the warning salvo of the NRA by calling off its men from the field in protest to the dastardly act of the irate fans, the attack on referees has surprisingly continued with Sunday's attack on the referee that handled the Warri Wolves vs Wikki Tourist match. The referees, Assesor and the Match Commissioner were brutally assaulted leading to body injuries and lost of vital items"
The NRA president added that the Association after due consideration of the ugly trend bedevilling better performances from referees, has considered it necessary to boycott all matches involving any team and home ground where referees are either harassed or physically assaulted by them and their supporters.
Tade said "Suffice it to note that referees in Nigeria are determined to change the face of the game, for better especially, that of the domestic league, by inculcating best practices in the course of discharging their duties as well as good officiating. Therefore, the NRA will not tolerate any attempt to convert referees as sacrificial lamb when results of the matches are not in their favour of any club side.
"Nigerian referees expect clubs and their supporters to assist match officials at ensuring free and fair game at the centres.
"The NRA is tempted to resuscitate its rested slogan of "BEAT A REFEREE AND KILL NIGERIA FOOTBALL" to campaign against attack on referees even as boycott of matches of teams involved in attack on referees stands."
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