The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has banned for life a referee Zaharadeen Nasiru from Katsina State and his assistant Usman Auwalu of Borno State over their poor handling of the Nigeria National League (NNL) week 17 fixture between Jigawa Golden Stars and Sporting Supreme in Dutse.

 

It will be recalled that the referee awarded a highly controversial goal against the visitors from Abuja after a player of Jigawa Golden Stars scored using his hand.

 

 Expectedly, the video clip capturing the ‘maradonic’ goal went viral necessitating swift action from the NFF.

 

Therefore, the NFF Referees’ Committee in the letter of expulsion signed by Mohammed Ameenu stated clearly that “In view of the serious nature of the decision taken in your week 17 match involving Jigawa Golden Stars and Sporting Supreme FC played in Dutse wherein your actions brought refereeing and the game in Nigeria into disrepute, I am directed to notify you that you have been expelled with immediate effect the league and refereeing generally.”

 

This is not the first time that the NFF has come down hard on erring referees in the ongoing season but the two may be the first to be handed life bans.

 

It will be recalled that sometime this year, at least 14 elite referees were suspended from officiating in the Nigeria Professional Football league (NPFL).

 

The NFF also removed Imamu Maliki Umar from officiating in the NPFL for the controversial call he made in the Matchday 17 clash between 3SC and Bayelsa United in Ibadan.

 

Referee Mohammed Gata who officiated the week 24 fixture between Katsina United and Heartland in katsina was also suspended by the NFF.

 

And on March 13, the NFF dropped centre referee Jimoh Abdulrasheed and his assistant Zakari Adamu from further officiating the 2024 NPFL season.