NFF Suspends Referee After NNL Match Controversy

The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) has handed an indefinite suspension to referee Adebayo Qudus following his contentious officiating during a Nigeria National League (NNL) clash between Gateway United and Sporting Lagos. Qudus faced sharp criticism over several questionable calls, including awarding Gateway a highly debatable penalty and making decisions that many believe violated standard officiating rules, casting a shadow over the game’s fairness.

According to the NFF’s Referee Development Committee, Qudus’s performance damaged the integrity of Nigerian football. A statement signed by Ameenu Mohammed emphasized that his actions undermined the credibility of match officiating and tarnished the image of the game.

During the match, Sporting Lagos striker Seun Akanji appeared to have scored a valid goal that was inexplicably ruled out for offside even though the assistant referee signaled it as a goal by advancing toward the center. Akanji received a yellow card despite no flag being raised. Shortly afterward, he scored again, only for Qudus to blow the whistle during play, show him a second yellow, and issue a red card. The assistant referee did not indicate offside in either instance.

Gateway United took advantage of the turmoil, equalizing with the controversial penalty before securing a 2-1 victory.

The controversy escalated further when Qudus reportedly posted a celebratory message on Facebook after the match, stating, “ALHAMDULILLAH IT ENDED SUCCESSFULLY 2-1 IN FAVOUR OF GATEWAY….. THANKS EVERYONE FOR YOUR SUPPORT.” This public display sparked outrage among fans and Sporting Lagos officials, with some on social media calling for severe consequences, including jail time, and condemning the officiating as blatant bias.

The NFF’s decision to suspend Qudus reflects a larger move to clean up officiating standards in Nigerian football. Earlier in the year, the federation warned that referees found guilty of match-fixing or manipulation would face a minimum ten-year ban and possible legal action from security agencies. This is part of an ongoing crackdown, including the suspension of another referee, Emmanuel Kolawole, in February for a similarly controversial penalty decision in an NPFL match. Measures such as improved monitoring and expanded live broadcasts have also been introduced to ensure greater transparency.

Sporting Lagos, who are in the race for promotion to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), expressed frustration over the incident. A member of the club’s board, Fola Olatunji-David, expressed his anger online, saying those responsible for the officiating disaster should lose their jobs or face legal consequences, underscoring the gravity of the situation.

This swift disciplinary action by the NFF demonstrates a commitment to raising officiating standards and confronting deeper issues such as insufficient referee training and poor working conditions, which continue to fuel controversies in domestic football.