The Nigerian Football Federation Refereeing Development Unit has stepped down one Jimoh Abduraheed the center referee from Bauchi along with his Assistant Referee, Zakari Adamu from Jigawa who officiated the football league match between Rivers United FC and Kano Pillars FC last Saturday at the Port Harcourt Township Stadium in Rivers state.
The stepping down of the Center Referee contained in a letter from the refereeing Development Unit of the NFF dated 10th of March and signed by Mohammed Ameenu DLM, FIMC, FAIPA, CMC for the Chairman, NFF Referees’ Committee which was made available to this site by the Media Officer of Kano Pillars FC, Sharif Zahraddeen Usman kofar Nassarawa.
“In view of the outcomes of matches and other misconduct exhibited by the concerned match official(s), I am directed to notify you that you have been stepped down with immediate effect from the league until further notice,” the letter reads.
The letter charged Jimoh Abdulrasheed (BA) – Referee and his assistant, Zakari Adamu (JG) for their wrong doing in the match between Rivers United vs Kano Pillars while referee Mohammed (NG) was also found wanting in the match between Katsina United vs Heartland FC.
This action was taken following a petition filed by Kano Pillars Management to Nigeria Professional Football League and the Interim Management Company (IMC) where they faulted the decision of the referee for allowing a goal against them even though their goalkeeper was openly being pushed into the net after he grabbed the ball from a Rivers United player as a result of which the goalkeeper was down for over fifteen minutes following an injury he sustained.
And when the goalkeeper was resuscitated the referee bowed to the homers pressure and awarded it as an equalizing goal, a situation which Kano Pillars protested.
The copies of this decision were forwarded to the President and the General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation.
