‘No Life of a Referee Worth a League Game’: NFRA Sets Up Ad-Hoc Committee on Match Officials’ Security

The Nigeria Football Referees’ Association (NFRA) has announced the constitution of an Ad-Hoc Committee on Match Officials’ Security Monitoring and Safety Measures, aimed at safeguarding referees at match venues across the country.

The initiative comes in response to recent incidents of insecurity at domestic league matches in the NPFL, NNL, Women’s League and NLO, which have raised concerns about the safety of referees.

With the NPFL currently on a two-week break before resuming its final fixtures, and the Nigeria Women’s Football League entering a crucial stage, the NFRA has moved to adopt proactive measures to protect its members.

The committee’s mandate includes monitoring referees’ operations at match venues to ensure their wellbeing before, during and after games, liaising with league organisers to strengthen security at venues with a history of attacks, and formulating proposals for long-term safety measures to be implemented in the 2026/2027 football season.

Acting NFRA President, Sir Kelechi Mejuobi, emphasized the importance of the initiative.

‘No life of a referee is worth a league game,’ he said and invoked Article 23.1 of the association’s constitution, which empowers the president to constitute ad-hoc committees for specific assignments, to appoint members with extensive security backgrounds.

The committee is chaired by Brigadier General Fawole Olawole, with Colonel Nicholas Achikasim as Vice Chairman, and includes senior officers and retired professionals from the police, immigration, correctional service, FRSC, NSCDC and the armed forces.

Former FIFA referees and retired officers are also part of the team, bringing a wealth of experience in both officiating and security management.