The Referees Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation has retired centre referee, Abiodun Alaba, who officiated last Sunday’s Nigeria Professional Football League matchday 23 clash between MFM FC and Shooting Stars at the Agege Stadium.
Alaba’s handling of the game was questioned by the majority of the spectators at the venue of the game.
Thugs suspected to be supporters of the home side invadedthe pitch after 3SC scored the winning goal through Ebitimi Agogo eight minutes from time claiming Alaba failed to award their side a penalty in the build-up to the goal.
The League Management Company have since fined MFM N2m for the unruly behaviour of their fans and ordered the club to play three home games behind closed doors.
The LMC on Wednesday wrote a letter to the NFF seeking the withdrawal of Alaba from handling matches in the Nigeria Professional Football League.
The committee after a routine review of the performance of all referees in the NPFL in past two months said it took the decision as a result of Alaba’s flagrant mismanagement of matches.
According to a statement from the committee: “Referee Abiodun Alaba lost absolute control of the NPFL match No. 223 between MFM FC of Lagos and Shooting Stars Sports Club of Ibadan played at the Agege Stadium, Lagos on Sunday, June 19, 2016.
He was not able to manage several frustrating antics of players during the game in spite of the helpful support from his assistant referees.”
The committee also recalled that Alaba was suspended last season for similar lapses.
“Alaba was suspended last season from active refereeing for similar lapses. Since it has become obvious that he is not going to be able to take full advantage of the opportunities offered by the federation to improve his art of refereeing in the last one year, the NFF referees committee has decided to retire him from active football refereeing with immediate effect,” the statement read.
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