It is often said that old habits doesn't quit itself. The new Nigeria Professional Football League season is undoubtedly taking a queue from last season's malaise that plaque the league.
A wide range of attacks and assault were carried out on league officiating officers last season by ever growingly home fans across the match venues last season and it was expected, this season, the trend will abated.
Despite stern warning by the League Management Company at the commencement of the season that any waring club that is caught in the hub of carrying out infringements on the league referees shall face full length of sanction, alas, just match Day 3 into the new season, the league have already recorded some cases of assault on referees.
Re-occurring decimal.
Last season, Sunshine stars fans attacked and brutally injured match officials after a goaless duel between Sunshine stars and Kano Pillars in Akure. The home crowd descended on the officials after centre referee sounded the final whistle. Damian Akure, the center referree, had Emmanuel Apine and Lewis Gwantana as his Assistant referees while Kenneth Onyiro was the fourth official and they all suffered bruises and other injuries after receiving the beaten of their lives from the irate fans. Needless to say the Akure based club Managements denied the incident.
On match 18 day of 2017/2018 NPFL season a ref was beating to coma in Owerri. It was a match between Heartland and Plateau United. The home fans restore to violence after the game ended 1-1
"Breaking 'old habits' can sometimes seem like a necessary step in order to reach our highest potential and create our ideal life. If only we could stop reverting to those behaviors that doesn't serves us good and brings inimical consequences"
Going back further, in week 10 of 2012/2013 NPFL season match officials experienced scourge of fans' brutality in an encounter between Lobi Stars of Makurdi and Enyimba. The ref and his assistants were beaten after the 0-0 draw at the Katsina Ala Stadium. The centre ref A.A Ibrahim from Kaduna and his assistants, Tope Arowolo from Osun and Kabiru Adams of Kaduna, were all physically assaulted. In the build-up to the match against Enyimba, Lobi Stars had won all the their last four home games and the Markurdi fans ruinously expecting another win against the then FA cup holders Enyimba and the match officials had to bear the brunt when The Peoples' Elephant cat away with the spoil of share. The centre ref had to be rushed to Toro Hospital in Katsina Ala for medical attention after the incident.
Back to the present...
In the Week One match in Jos, Plateau United vs Ifeanyi Uba FC, match officials were beaten blue and back by supporters of home side because they drew at home. The same incident took another reared ugly face on match Day 3 when two newly promoted clubs Remo stars and Insurance of Benin lock horns in Ishagamu. The match ended 1-1 but the home fans thought they should have ended the match with the maximum points and coast home with victory if not a goal that was disallowed by the centre referee. The officiating ref was nearly beaten to stupor by the Sky Blue's fans.
The question is if after just 3 rounds of matches we have witnessed spate of high scale violence against the Referees what are the measure in place to prevent this unwarranted and despicable act as the season wore on?
(Viewers discretion)
The NRA
Nigeria Referee Association is the umbrella body for the leagues Referees and it has always come out 'in strong term' to decry, lament and sometimes threaten to boycott NPFL matches if the lives and safety of its members is not guaranteed during and immediately after a match whenever the incident of assault on its Association member occur.
In September 2013, The National Executive Council of Nigeria Referees Association (NRA) rising from an emergency meeting called to review activities of members in the (then) on-going Nigeria Professional Football League and directed that no referee should honour any NPFL matches again until further notice.
The sanction according to a statement issued by the Public Relation of NRA, Sareh Jumoke Adebisi takes immediate effect pending the resolution of the Organization and the Disciplinary, O&D Committee of Nigeria Football Federation decision on the referee beaten in Kwara.
It would be recalled that assistant referee, Durunna CIB was beaten by irate fans in the official's dressing room during the half-time break and had to be rushed by an ambulance to a nearby hospital for emergency medical treatment in NPFL game between Kwara United and Warri Wolves at the Kwara State stadium in 2013/3014 NPFL season.
The mayhem, however halted the week 29 NPFL game (of that season) which was watched by the then Minister of Youth and Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi.
Those were the kind of 'stringent and irrevocable' terms you heard after an ugly incident in a league match. But, Lo and behold! the seasson would continue, the refs will return to duties and nothing is going to be heard of of the case.
Similarly, in their usual 'strong warning' messages NRA has threatens to boycott this season's NPFL matches over assaults. The association issued the threat in reaction to two incidences where referees were beaten black and blue in Plateau and Ogun states during Matchday 1 and 3 of the NPFL 2018/19 season, respectively.
In a press statement released Monday by the National Publicity Secretary of the NRA, Kelechi Mejuobi, the association condemned the two attacks in strong terms and called on the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, league Management Company, LMC and Club Owners Association to rise up and tame the tide.
The release further added that the association will convey an emergency meeting to take a stand on the master stressing that no league match is worth the life of a referee or anyone else.
"The sore point witness so far in the top Nigeria league that is in Week Three is the "One Week, One Attack on Referee" incidents. In the Week One match in Jos, Plateau State, Plateau United vs Ifeanyi Uba FC, the referees were beaten blue and back by supporters of home side because the drew at home. Before the dust raised by the incident could rest following sanctions placed on the Jos stadium amidst heavy fines Plateau United was charged to pay, Gateway Stadium in Sagamu, Ogun state turned another slaughter ground where referees suffered serious assault resulting to a bloodbath in the score draw match; Remo Stars vs Bendel Insurance.
"While the NRA awaits the decision of the league organisers, the LMC, it has become imperative for the leadership of the referees’ body to once again not only condemn the barbaric act but also urge football authorities in the country to wade into the matter because the association is on the verge of asking its members to keep away from the league to avoid being killed by desperate club officers and their rampaging supporters.
"A General Assembly of the association shall meet to take a decision on this matter even as the sanctions placed on Plateau United based on the earlier resolution that NRA members won't honour matches on grounds where referees are beaten remains sacrosanct.
"It is obvious that the incidents in Jos and Sagamu, coming early in the Abridged League are ominous signs of bad days ahead for the domestic league, particularly, Nigerian referees taking part in the NPFL, who are at the verge of losing their lives at match venues if scenes witnessed so far from the violent venues are considered.
A wide range of attacks and assault were carried out on league officiating officers last season by ever growingly home fans across the match venues last season and it was expected, this season, the trend will abated.
Despite stern warning by the League Management Company at the commencement of the season that any waring club that is caught in the hub of carrying out infringements on the league referees shall face full length of sanction, alas, just match Day 3 into the new season, the league have already recorded some cases of assault on referees.
Re-occurring decimal.
Last season, Sunshine stars fans attacked and brutally injured match officials after a goaless duel between Sunshine stars and Kano Pillars in Akure. The home crowd descended on the officials after centre referee sounded the final whistle. Damian Akure, the center referree, had Emmanuel Apine and Lewis Gwantana as his Assistant referees while Kenneth Onyiro was the fourth official and they all suffered bruises and other injuries after receiving the beaten of their lives from the irate fans. Needless to say the Akure based club Managements denied the incident.
On match 18 day of 2017/2018 NPFL season a ref was beating to coma in Owerri. It was a match between Heartland and Plateau United. The home fans restore to violence after the game ended 1-1
"Breaking 'old habits' can sometimes seem like a necessary step in order to reach our highest potential and create our ideal life. If only we could stop reverting to those behaviors that doesn't serves us good and brings inimical consequences"
Going back further, in week 10 of 2012/2013 NPFL season match officials experienced scourge of fans' brutality in an encounter between Lobi Stars of Makurdi and Enyimba. The ref and his assistants were beaten after the 0-0 draw at the Katsina Ala Stadium. The centre ref A.A Ibrahim from Kaduna and his assistants, Tope Arowolo from Osun and Kabiru Adams of Kaduna, were all physically assaulted. In the build-up to the match against Enyimba, Lobi Stars had won all the their last four home games and the Markurdi fans ruinously expecting another win against the then FA cup holders Enyimba and the match officials had to bear the brunt when The Peoples' Elephant cat away with the spoil of share. The centre ref had to be rushed to Toro Hospital in Katsina Ala for medical attention after the incident.
Back to the present...
In the Week One match in Jos, Plateau United vs Ifeanyi Uba FC, match officials were beaten blue and back by supporters of home side because they drew at home. The same incident took another reared ugly face on match Day 3 when two newly promoted clubs Remo stars and Insurance of Benin lock horns in Ishagamu. The match ended 1-1 but the home fans thought they should have ended the match with the maximum points and coast home with victory if not a goal that was disallowed by the centre referee. The officiating ref was nearly beaten to stupor by the Sky Blue's fans.
The question is if after just 3 rounds of matches we have witnessed spate of high scale violence against the Referees what are the measure in place to prevent this unwarranted and despicable act as the season wore on?
(Viewers discretion)
The injured Bethel Nwanesi, the referee that officiated the NPFL matchday three encounter between Remo Stars and Bendel Insurance
...
The NRA
Nigeria Referee Association is the umbrella body for the leagues Referees and it has always come out 'in strong term' to decry, lament and sometimes threaten to boycott NPFL matches if the lives and safety of its members is not guaranteed during and immediately after a match whenever the incident of assault on its Association member occur.
In September 2013, The National Executive Council of Nigeria Referees Association (NRA) rising from an emergency meeting called to review activities of members in the (then) on-going Nigeria Professional Football League and directed that no referee should honour any NPFL matches again until further notice.
The sanction according to a statement issued by the Public Relation of NRA, Sareh Jumoke Adebisi takes immediate effect pending the resolution of the Organization and the Disciplinary, O&D Committee of Nigeria Football Federation decision on the referee beaten in Kwara.
It would be recalled that assistant referee, Durunna CIB was beaten by irate fans in the official's dressing room during the half-time break and had to be rushed by an ambulance to a nearby hospital for emergency medical treatment in NPFL game between Kwara United and Warri Wolves at the Kwara State stadium in 2013/3014 NPFL season.
The mayhem, however halted the week 29 NPFL game (of that season) which was watched by the then Minister of Youth and Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi.
Those were the kind of 'stringent and irrevocable' terms you heard after an ugly incident in a league match. But, Lo and behold! the seasson would continue, the refs will return to duties and nothing is going to be heard of of the case.
Similarly, in their usual 'strong warning' messages NRA has threatens to boycott this season's NPFL matches over assaults. The association issued the threat in reaction to two incidences where referees were beaten black and blue in Plateau and Ogun states during Matchday 1 and 3 of the NPFL 2018/19 season, respectively.
In a press statement released Monday by the National Publicity Secretary of the NRA, Kelechi Mejuobi, the association condemned the two attacks in strong terms and called on the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, league Management Company, LMC and Club Owners Association to rise up and tame the tide.
The release further added that the association will convey an emergency meeting to take a stand on the master stressing that no league match is worth the life of a referee or anyone else.
"The sore point witness so far in the top Nigeria league that is in Week Three is the "One Week, One Attack on Referee" incidents. In the Week One match in Jos, Plateau State, Plateau United vs Ifeanyi Uba FC, the referees were beaten blue and back by supporters of home side because the drew at home. Before the dust raised by the incident could rest following sanctions placed on the Jos stadium amidst heavy fines Plateau United was charged to pay, Gateway Stadium in Sagamu, Ogun state turned another slaughter ground where referees suffered serious assault resulting to a bloodbath in the score draw match; Remo Stars vs Bendel Insurance.
"While the NRA awaits the decision of the league organisers, the LMC, it has become imperative for the leadership of the referees’ body to once again not only condemn the barbaric act but also urge football authorities in the country to wade into the matter because the association is on the verge of asking its members to keep away from the league to avoid being killed by desperate club officers and their rampaging supporters.
"It is obvious that the incidents in Jos and Sagamu, coming early in the Abridged League are ominous signs of bad days ahead for the domestic league, particularly, Nigerian referees taking part in the NPFL, who are at the verge of losing their lives at match venues if scenes witnessed so far from the violent venues are considered.
"It is on this note that the NRA who strongly cares for the welfare of its members and believes that no life of a referee is worth any league match in the country is considering keeping away from the NPFL matches to avoid a referee beaten to death. The desire to save the lives of referees forces the NRA to beckon on the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, LMC and so called NPFL/ Club Owners, to as a matter of urgent concern intervene immediately to save the situation.
"It is worthy to note that the NRA working in partnership with the NFF Referees Committee had engaged in capacity training of the referees for the new season and considers all listed and appointed referees fit for the 2018/2019 football league. And if by any omission or commission, a referee conducts himself or herself in a manner likely to bring the game to disrepute and misconduct that affects the outcome of the game, the NFF Referees Committee, adjudicates the matter to ascertain proper sanctions to the defaulting referee(s) while the NRA has an Ethics/ Disciplinary Committee that recommends further punishment based on the degree of offence. Therefore, is an anathema in the football system for Club Owners and supporters exploit that to assault the referee," the statement read.
The association also frowned at the unsavory attitude of some of the Club Officials who out of partisan proclivity and desire to have their clubs win through unorthodox means, make scathing remarks about referees and officiating knowing well such reactions have capacities of igniting crowd attacks on the referees. The association therefore called on all stakeholders to preach and work against hooliganism on the league centres to enable the NPFL move forward.
The LMC
Nigeria League Management Company (LMC) is the league facilitator, a body that is expected to put in place good measure for the league to thrive. In their reactionary steps have reel out sanctions of different scale to Plateau United and Remo stars.
Plateau United punishment
Plateau United was fined five million naira and have been banished to Ilorin for their next three home matches among other sanctions.
Remo Stars punishment
-Club Chairman fined and banned from three NPFL Matches.
-Team Manager suspended for rest of the Season.
-Club fined a total of N6m including
compensation to Referees.
-Club Ordered to produce two identified supporters involved in attack.
-Club to forfeit three points in case of a repeat occurrence.
-Club to play three home matches in Osogbo.
With the 'heavy sanction' placed on the erring clubs particularly Remo stars hopefully it will serve as a deterrent to other clubs and propel them to firstly, educate their fans against violence of any sort and secondly provide adequate security on match to ensure hitch-free game.
Breaking 'old habits' can sometimes seem like a necessary step in order to reach our highest potential and create our ideal life. If only we could stop reverting to those behaviors that don't serve us, our football would flow smoothly,
Comments