NFF Decorates 30 Nigerian Referees with FIFA Badges, Warns Against Misconduct

 The Nigeria Football Federation has officially presented FIFA badges to 30 Nigerian referees, charging them to uphold professionalism and credibility as ambassadors of the country’s officiating standards on the international stage.

The ceremony, held in Abuja, was led by NFF President Ibrahim Musa Gusau, who described the recognition as both an honour and a responsibility. He stressed that the new badge holders must demonstrate fairness, discipline and consistency in every match assignment, noting that modern broadcasting technology has made officiating decisions more visible and more scrutinised than ever.

According to the federation, the newly accredited officials consist of centre referees, assistant referees, futsal referees and beach soccer referees, all now listed under FIFA for potential international appointments. The certification allows them to officiate matches sanctioned globally, including competitions organised by Confederation of African Football.

Gusau warned that the recognition should not be seen as a ceremonial reward but as a performance benchmark, adding that any official found guilty of misconduct or repeated poor judgment could lose the privilege. He linked improved officiating directly to the commercial growth of domestic football, saying credible refereeing strengthens fan confidence and attracts sponsors.

NFF General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi urged the referees to maintain strong decision-making standards under pressure, while Technical Director Augustine Eguavoen encouraged them to view the badge as motivation to keep improving fitness, rule knowledge and match management skills.

The federation believes the milestone signals progress in Nigeria’s referee development programme and could open doors for more Nigerian officials to feature regularly at elite continental and global tournaments. With domestic league matches increasingly broadcast live, the spotlight on referees has never been brighter — and the NFF insists the new badge holders must be ready for that stage.