2025/2026 NNL mid-season retreat: Stakeholders go hard on fraudulent officiating

Posted : 30 January 2026

Referees will face expulsion in the second stanza of the Nigeria National League (NNL) for substandard performances.

This was the decision reached by the NNL and the Nigeria National League Club Owners and Managers Association (NALCOMA) on the final day of their mid-season retreat at the auditorium of Beyond Limits FC, Ikenne, Ogun State.

Both bodies bemoaned the level of refereeing in the first stanza of the competition as unacceptable and capable of bringing the league into disrepute.

Consequently, the retreat proposed the outright expulsion of any referee in the league who compromises and fails to implement the laws of the game during matches.

To help with the level of officiating, the retreat requested that Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) referees be drafted to handle matches in the second stanza of the 2025/2026 season.

After reviewing the first stanza of the season, the NNL and NALCOMA condemned, in strong terms, the win-at-home-at-all-cost attitude of some clubs in the league, as well as the spate of harassment and intimidation of match officials.

According to the stakeholders, any match venue that promotes hooliganism, harassment, and disruption of matches would be heavily penalized.

The second-tier league resumes on 14 February for the remainder of the 2025/26 season.

FULL RESOLUTIONS:

NNL and NALCOMA thanked Hon. Kunle Soname for the successful hosting of the retreat at his ultra-modern sports facility at the Remo Stars Stadium, Ikenne, Ogun State.
Both bodies appreciated the President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau (MON), for piloting the affairs of football in the country, and the NFF Board for the unflinching support and continuous guidance to make the NNL the most important league in Nigeria.
The NNL and NALCOMA condemned, in strong terms, the win-at-home-at-all-cost attitude of some clubs in the league, as well as the spate of harassment and intimidation of match officials.
They bemoaned the standard of officiating in the first stanza of the 2025/2026 season as unacceptable and capable of bringing the league into disrepute.
The retreat proposed the outright expulsion of any referee in the league who compromises and fails to implement the laws of the game during matches.
The retreat reiterated its earlier resolution at the Annual General Meeting in Kaduna (before the commencement of the season) that a Super 4 competition shall be organized by the NNL at the end of the season to determine the overall winner of the league. Club chairmen were reminded that any of the four clubs that fail to participate shall automatically relinquish their promotion status to the club that came second on the table of such a conference.
The retreat noted with delight the proposed increase of prize money for the Super 4.
The retreat commended Betpawa for the prompt implementation of the Locker Room Bonus (LRB) in the first stanza of the 2025/2026 league season and also noted with delight the plan by Betpawa to further provide material support to the clubs.
The retreat upheld 14 February 2026 as the commencement date of the second stanza of the league, while urging clubs to ensure timely completion of their mid-season transfer of players.
The retreat thanked the NNL’s new partners, Toptier Sports Management Ltd (TSM), for signing an investment deal with the NNL, even as it charged the company to activate the deal ahead of the second stanza.
The retreat thanked all other NNL partners for the concerted efforts being made to improve the quality of the league.
The retreat unanimously agreed that any match venue that promotes hooliganism, harassment, and disruption of matches would be heavily penalized.
The retreat requested that Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) referees should be drafted to handle matches of the second stanza of the 2025/2026 season.
The retreat applauded the cordial relationship that exists between the NNL Board and NALCOMA in the administration of the league while advising that there has to be improvement in communication.
The retreat commended the Board of the Nigeria National League led by Chief George Aluo and NALCOMA led by Mr. Godwin Enakhena, even as it lauded the achievements so far recorded, especially in attracting partners for the league by the NNL board.

Signed: Communiqué Drafting Committee:
i. Mallam Ahmed Usman Egye – Chairman
ii. Mallam Anas Bamusa – Member
iii. Mr. Nicholas Akujobi – Secretary

2025/2026 NNL mid-season retreat: Stakeholders go hard on fraudulent officiating

ADD A COMMENT :

Hot Topics