Gracious Akujobi
The leadership of the Nigeria Football Referees Association (NFRA) has taken a swipe at the Minister of the Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi for accusing the referees of being corrupt.
Speaking through its Deputy National President Tade Azzez in Abuja, the association said the statement credited to the Minister who doubles as the Chairman of the National Sports Commission was in bad faith and may have incited the recent battering of referees in various league matches
“The Minister should know that he does not have a monopoly of knowledge. He is only a Minister of Sports and not that of football. The Minister should also be bold enough to figure out a referee that has been caught in any act that is inimical to the game in the country”
“We as an association takes exception to the Minister’s statement, and would want any Nigerian that have proofs to indict the referees in the country to come out and make public such accusation”.
He maintained that Nigerian referees remain one of the best in the continent, with high level of integrity.
10 Comments
First and foremost the battering of the referee is condemnable and should not be in any way justified, in any case I also think what the Minister says has know relation to what(NFRA) vice president is saying. The Minister from all quarters and standard is one who likes to speak the truth even when it affects him in person. what I deduce from what the Minister is saying is referees should remain professionals and be fair in all the games they find themselves officiating, this in turn will also help improve the league.
The way our of the debacle is refereeing audit – a convention that promote the role of football referees and improve quality of match officials at all level: grassroots, amateur, professional and by implementation of minimum standards and best practices for Referee Education and the structure of refereeing matters. There is no shortcut to good problem definition: It must be directed toward the underlying problem definition: It must be directed toward the underlying problem rather than a superficial symptom.
In a large sense, the fact that FIFA rejection of our referees in high profile competition is unabated is symptomatic of a deep-seated fear of taking chances. We need to combat this deluge. It is very easy to give a monkey a water with a cup, but the problem is collecting the cup.
First and foremost the battering of the referee is condemnable and should not be in any way justified, in any case I also think what the Minister says has know relation to what(NFRA) vice president is saying. The Minister from all quarters and standard is one who likes to speak the truth even when it affects him in person. what I deduce from what the Minister is saying is referees should remain professionals and be fair in all the games they find themselves officiating, this in turn will also help improve the league.
The way our of the debacle is refereeing audit – a convention that promote the role of football referees and improve quality of match officials at all level: grassroots, amateur, professional and by implementation of minimum standards and best practices for Referee Education and the structure of refereeing matters. There is no shortcut to good problem definition: It must be directed toward the underlying problem definition: It must be directed toward the underlying problem rather than a superficial symptom.
In a large sense, the fact that FIFA rejection of our referees in high profile competition is unabated is symptomatic of a deep-seated fear of taking chances. We need to combat this deluge. It is very easy to give a monkey a water with a cup, but the problem is collecting the cup.
NFF, like FIFA need Zero tolerance strategy
“Match-fixing shakes
the very foundations of our game, namely fair play, respect and
discipline. That’s why FIFA employs a zero-tolerance policy when it
comes to
any infringement of these values,” FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter
We need to take a zero tolerance approach to match-manipulation as FIFA
and committed to protecting the integrity of football by all possible
means.
In protect our game against match-manipulation,
FIFA has a regulatory framework
which ensures that all statutory rules, rules of conduct and internal
guidelines of our game are respected and complied with. In particular as
a measure to aid in prevention, FIFA has issued, among others, Code of
Conduct and Code of Ethics. These documents contain standards for legal
and ethical behaviour which are expected to be considered and complied
with by the pertinent stakeholders at all times and without exception.
Pursuant
to the above-mentioned regulatory framework, NFF need to set up a
mechanism by means of which inappropriate behaviour and infringements of
the pertinent regulations may be reported. This would offer an
opportunity for persons bound by the FIFA Code of Ethics, and others to
notify it of potential violations.
However, this, is intended solely for potential violations that fall under it jurisdiction encompasses misconduct that:
(i) relates to match manipulation
(ii)
occurs in or affects more than one club/state or person, so that it
cannot adequately be addressed by committee/team/state/person involved;
or
(iii) would ordinarily be addressed by the
association, but, under the particular facts at issue, has not been or
is unlikely to be dealt with appropriately at that level.
NFF, like FIFA need Zero tolerance strategy
“Match-fixing shakes
the very foundations of our game, namely fair play, respect and
discipline. That’s why FIFA employs a zero-tolerance policy when it
comes to
any infringement of these values,” FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter
We need to take a zero tolerance approach to match-manipulation as FIFA
and committed to protecting the integrity of football by all possible
means.
In protect our game against match-manipulation,
FIFA has a regulatory framework
which ensures that all statutory rules, rules of conduct and internal
guidelines of our game are respected and complied with. In particular as
a measure to aid in prevention, FIFA has issued, among others, Code of
Conduct and Code of Ethics. These documents contain standards for legal
and ethical behaviour which are expected to be considered and complied
with by the pertinent stakeholders at all times and without exception.
Pursuant
to the above-mentioned regulatory framework, NFF need to set up a
mechanism by means of which inappropriate behaviour and infringements of
the pertinent regulations may be reported. This would offer an
opportunity for persons bound by the FIFA Code of Ethics, and others to
notify it of potential violations.
However, this, is intended solely for potential violations that fall under it jurisdiction encompasses misconduct that:
(i) relates to match manipulation
(ii)
occurs in or affects more than one club/state or person, so that it
cannot adequately be addressed by committee/team/state/person involved;
or
(iii) would ordinarily be addressed by the
association, but, under the particular facts at issue, has not been or
is unlikely to be dealt with appropriately at that level.
I have never failed, using any opportunity that comes my way, to express disdain and disenchantment over the way referee and refereeing issue is being handled! Refereeing is knowledge driven! Anyone can contest that if so wish; it is a right. But we will be doing the game, ourselves and the nation a great disservice if we failed to accept this fact wholeheartedly and work conscienciously to obliterate it from our football referee and refereeing. Forget all the grandstanding towards why FIFA and CAF persistently rejecting Nigeria Referee Team in her high profile tournaments and competitions; it can only help if the NFF (on whose delicate shoulders rest our referees success or failure) takes the bull by the horn and enthrone best practices, referee education and organization in our refereeing sector. Some situation demands you move away, while some situation demands you move towards it for development. Refereeing is intrinsically linked to the future of our game development. So we need to development it handsomely. If you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains however improbable must be the truth.
I have never failed, using any opportunity that comes my way, to express disdain and disenchantment over the way referee and refereeing issue is being handled! Refereeing is knowledge driven! Anyone can contest that if so wish; it is a right. But we will be doing the game, ourselves and the nation a great disservice if we failed to accept this fact wholeheartedly and work conscienciously to obliterate it from our football referee and refereeing. Forget all the grandstanding towards why FIFA and CAF persistently rejecting Nigeria Referee Team in her high profile tournaments and competitions; it can only help if the NFF (on whose delicate shoulders rest our referees success or failure) takes the bull by the horn and enthrone best practices, referee education and organization in our refereeing sector. Some situation demands you move away, while some situation demands you move towards it for development. Refereeing is intrinsically linked to the future of our game development. So we need to development it handsomely. If you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains however improbable must be the truth.
Nigeria football referee and refereeing only needs professionalisation of refereeing Referee education and Organization, and strong institution to perform optimally
Nigeria football referee and refereeing only needs professionalisation of refereeing Referee education and Organization, and strong institution to perform optimally