2022 World Cup: Nigeria referees fail FIFA test
The President of Nigeria Referees Association (NRA) Tade Azeez has vowed to take Nigerian Referees to the finals of FIFA World Cup in 2022 before quitting the stage as the body’s boss.
15 Nigeria referees have failed the quarterly FIFA fitness test organized by the Nigeria Referees Association, SportingLife.ng has learnt.
NRA President, Tade Azeez revealed that 250 elite referees took part in the fitness exercise out of which 15 failed the test and added that the 15 will be demoted to the lower division.
He said the quarterly Fifa Fitness Test is to assess their physical, mental and medical conditions before assigning matches to them.
Meanwhile the NRA chief has vowed that Nigerian Referees would officiate at the finals of 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar before he quits the stage.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of first quarter Fifa fitness test 2018 for elite referees held in Abuja, Azeez said the exclusion of Nigerian referees from the FIfa world cup in Russia is a wake up call for the NRA to work harder by monitoring members performances both at the league and CAF competitions.
On the recommendation of the League Management Company (LMC) that 10 elite referees be axed due to poor performance and unnecessary delay of submitting match reports, Azeez said the Nff Referees Committee is currently studying the recommendation and very soon a decision will be reached and defaulting officials will be either suspended or expelled depending on the level of offence committed.
” Look we can’t just impose sanctions on them without reviewing the matches in question. I want to assure you that NRA will not cover any referee found wanting. My target is to see our referees at the Fifa world cup in 2022 and that is the legacy I want to leave before bowing out as the President of NRA”. Said referees boss.