Referees Association Acting President Kelechi Mejuobi Charges Arbiters To Apply Regulations Learnt During Refresher Courses

The acting president of Nigeria Football Referees Association (NFRA), Sir Kelechi Mejuobi, has charged match officials appointed for this season in domestic league matches across all divisions in the country to put into practice all that they learnt during refresher courses.

Sports247 reports that Mejuobi added that arbiters selected for each fixture in the new season must strictly adhere to Laws of the Game and competition rules, to justify all training programmes they went through during pre-season and over the years.

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Mejuobi stressed that proper application of the laws remains central to the reforms that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has demanded in all sectors of the round leather game, particularly with the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), which now has a title sponsor.

He pointed out that referees and assessors have undergone extensive pre-season training and have been mentally prepared for the demands of the new campaign, hence his verdict that they should all be able to translate lessons learnt into their performances during matches.

“What is expected of us is to officiate in accordance with the Laws of the Game and adhere to competition rules. Our job is to officiate without fear or favour, as far as it equates to what the 17 Laws of the Game say, and respect the competition rules.

“(We have) to ensure our actions are in tandem with the desire of the league organisers. Go and perform and ensure the resources, time and energy spent during the pre-season programmes are not a waste. Translate what was taught during the pre-season into action in your matches.

“Make NFRA proud in all your engagements,” said Mejuobi, who also revealed that the association has reactivated its security and safety monitoring committee to assist the NPFL and host football associations in protecting referees at match venues.

Sports247 reports further that the NFRA’s interim boss also revealed that new strategies will be put in place to prevent unauthorised persons from gaining access to dressing rooms set aside for referees as well as tunnels leading to the arena before, during or after matches.