NFRA Urges Referees to Follow Game Laws for NPFL Season

As the 2026/2027 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season commences, the Nigeria Football Referees Association (NFRA) has called on match officials to strictly follow the Laws of the Game and competition rules. This directive was issued by the acting President of NFRA, Sir Kelechi Mejuobi, in a message to referees.

The season, branded as EuroMatch-NPFL, officially began on Friday with Shooting Stars defeating Inter Lagos 2-1 at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan. Mejuobi emphasized the importance of reforming Nigerian football, urging referees to apply the 17 Laws of the Game neutrally and to respect competition regulations.

He encouraged officials to approach matches with professionalism and confidence, highlighting that their conduct impacts the league's credibility. The NFRA has also conducted a pre-season program for referees to enhance their technical knowledge and fitness, which included medical examinations and practical exercises.

Mejuobi urged referees to implement the skills learned during this training in their officiating.