NFF introduces strategies to sanitise leagues

• Bars club chairmen, secretaries from holding state FA positions

In its bid to curb the malpractices that have bedeviled the nation’s club football at all levels, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) yesterday introduced first measures aimed at sanitizing the game within the country.

The strategies are contained in a nine-point circular issued yesterday by the federation’s Secretary General, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, to all NFF board members, chairman of League Management Company (LMC), Chairman of Nigerian National League (NNL), Chairman of Women League, Chairman of Nationwide League, Chairman of NFF Referees Committee, Chairman of NFF Match Commissioners Appointment Committee, Football Associations of the 36 States and FCT and all members of the federation.

It reads: “The Integrity Unit has commenced the implementation of the Strategy Guideline and has identified some areas that require immediate attention to avoid all forms of conflict of interest.”

It added, “it is observed that members of the Match Commissioners Committee do appoint themselves as match commissioners in our league games. This act portends a great danger in terms of transparency and prevention of any possible exploitation. In view of the above, the NFF Match Commissioners Committee shall no longer be allowed to appoint themselves as match commissioners in our leagues.

“It is observed that members of the Referees Appointment Committee do appoint themselves as referee assessors in our league games. This act portends a great danger in terms of transparency and prevention of any possible exploitation. In view of the above, the NFF Referees Appointment Committee members shall no longer be allowed to appoint themselves as referee assessors in our leagues.

“Also, we have observed that some club officials are currently operating as match commissioners in some strata of our leagues. In view of these reforms, no club official should be appointed as a match commissioner in any of our leagues in Nigeria.”