The Director General of National Sports Commission in Nigeria, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye, has said Nigerian FIFA dont appoint Nigeria referees for international duties because they are all corrupt. Hon.Elegbeleye said,the way the referees officiate their matches especially in the league are very embarrassing and a lot need to be done about it. He said this while speaking at the Abuja National Stadium on Tuesday.Meanwhile former Public Relations Officer of Nigeria Referees Association, FCT chapter, Robert Akpenpuun disagrees with him saying Nigerian referees officiate international games. “I disagree with him because even at the last Nations Cup, a Nigerian referee , Peter Edibe officiated. He is also going to be at the World Cup“. He said the “must win at home” syndrome of Nigerian teams is responsible for the allegation. Akpenpuun cited an example of the Kwara United and Warri Wolves encounter in Ilorin where the referee was beaten to stupor because the home team was not winning.
He said the arrangement by the organisers of football matches doesn’t provide the referees opportunity to be fair. “The home team will pick you [referee] up from the stadium, take you [the referee] to your hotel room and provide feeding. How do you think the referees will be objective in their officiating?” The referee urged the government to reform the system and ensure that contacts between referees and home teams are minimised.