The crisis in the governance of Nigerian football further deepened on Wednesday following an announcement that the country's referees association will withdraw the services of its men from the different tiers of the league.
According to a statement from the Nigeria Referees Association (NRA) through its secretary-general, Prince Moroof Oyekunle Oluwa, the referees body working committee explained that the NRA is withdrawing its services to the different leagues following the crisis rocking the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
Affected by the referees' boycott are the Nigeria Professional Football League (Glo Premier League), the Nigeria National League (NNL), the Nigeria Nationwide League (NNWL) and the Nigeria Women's League.
The referees body also stated that its withdrawal further extends to the Federation Cup for the men and women.
“I have been directed by the Working Committee of the above named Association to inform you that, in view of uncertainty in the Nigeria Football Federation, the Nigeria Referees are hereby withdrawing its services with immediate effect from all matches organised by the NFF which includes the Nigeria Premier League, Nigeria National League, Nigeria NationWide League, Nigeria Women League and the Federation Cup pending when sanity is restored,” the NRA secretary-general wrote to the different tiers of the Nigerian league on Wednesday.
However, the League Management Company (LMC) has bemoaned the current impasse rocking the governance of football in Nigeria, which has brought about two groups.
The LMC, which oversees the running and management of the Nigerian top tier, the NPFL, has now put on hold all games billed for Match Day 26 this weekend.
“The decision is in the light of the notice of withdrawal of services by the Nigerian Referees Association which makes it impossible for us to organise games.
“We have written to the General Secretary of the NFF on this development and have also informed the Clubs and our Sponsors,” a statement from the LMC Chief Operating Officer, Salihu Abubakar, read.
He said the LMC desires that the crisis be amicably resolved soon to restore an enabling environment for the league to run smoothly.
“We are already running a tight fixture schedule and are hoping that this crisis is resolved soon so the season can be concluded in time for our clubs to prepare for continental registration and participation," Abubakar stated.
SOURCE: Super sports.
EUROPEAN FOOTBALL.
Champions League draw: Liverpool to face holders Real
Five-time winners Liverpool will face defending champions Real Madrid on their return to the Champions League.
Liverpool, back after a five-year absence, have also been drawn alongside Basel and Ludogorets of Bulgaria.
Cristiano Ronaldo on Liverpool, Wayne Rooney & Angel Di Maria
Manchester City will play Bayern Munich for the third time in four seasons, as well as CSKA Moscow and Roma.
Arsenal face Borussia Dortmund for the second season running, while Chelsea look to have a kind draw against Schalke, Sporting Lisbon and Maribor.
"Jose Mourinho texted me to say he was happy. Would you rather be in the groups with the other English clubs? You have got to be happy with that," said Chelsea club secretary David Barnard.
Arsenal's club secretary David Miles said: "We know Borussia Dortmund well of course, and we are looking forward to it and hopefully can progress through this group - with the pre-requisite being to aim to finish top of the group."
Group A
AtleticoMadrid
Juventus
Olympiakos
Malmo
Group B
Real Madrid
FC Basel
Liverpool
Ludogorets Razgrad
Group C
Benfica
Zenit St Petersburg
Bayer Leverkusen
Monaco
Group D
Arsenal
Borussia Dortmund
Galatasaray
Anderlecht
Group E
Bayern Munich
Manchester City
CSKA Moscow
Roma
Group F
Barcelona
Paris St-Germain
Ajax
Apoel Nicosia
Group G
Chelsea
Schalke
Sporting Lisbon
Maribor
Group H
Porto
Shakhtar Donetsk
Athletic Bilbao
BATE Borisov
SURVEY CARRIED OUT (via voting) BY BBC ON ENGLISH TEAM WITH THE TOUGHEST CHAMPIONS' LEAGUE GROUP.