TheCable

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has urged all stakeholders to disregard a statement from the League Management Company (LMC) that matches of the Nigeria Premier League have been called off. 

The league organisers, LMC, had said it was “impossible for us to organise games” as a result of the directive from the Nigeria Referees Association (NRA) ordering all referees slated to officiate in this weekend matches to withdraw their services  “until sanity is restored” to the national game.

Chris Giwa, who is probably facing the first test of his authority as NFF president, has condemned the statement by the organisers of the league.

“It has come to our notice that the League Management Company has been issuing notices to clubs in the Premier League that matches are being suspended from this weekend,” he said.

“This is totally untrue. If the LMC received a notice from the Nigeria Referees Association about purported withdrawal of referees, the LMC should have brought this to the notice of the NFF and not to take a decision to suspend the League on its own.”

Giwa expressed his unhappiness with the NRA for the threat to withdraw referees from the Premier League, saying the NFF would not take the matter lightly.

“As the owners of the League, the Nigeria Football Federation is hereby making it clear that Premier League matches are not being suspended. Matches scheduled for this weekend will definitely take place,” Giwa said.

The Premier League is in its 25th week of action with defending champions Kano Pillars currently topping the table with 43 points.