The League Management Company (LMC) have withdrawn four referees and two assistant referees from handling any Nigeria Professional Football League games indefinitely due to poor performance. LMC made the announcement on their verified Twitter handle on Tuesday. The affected referees are Umar Mohammed who was in charge of matchday 29 game between Niger Tornadoes and Plateau United in Minna, Aliyu Abdullahi and Saleh Mohammed who were in charge of Katsina United versus Kano Pillars in Katsina and Plateau United versus IfeanyiUbah in Jos respectively on matchday 30 and also Sam Agba who officiated the matchday 31 game between IfeanyiUbah versus Gombe United in Nnewi. While the two assistant referees are Emmanuel Udoh (assistant referee 1) and Felagha Awudola (assistant referee 2) in the game between IfeanyiUbah and Gombe United on matchday 31, in which visitors Gombe United were denied a late winner by when the referee blew the final whistle just as they were about to score a tap-in. A statement by LMC reads: "LMC therefore requests #NPFL refs in Tornadoes vs Plateau Utd; Katsina Utd vs Pillars; Plateau Utd vs FCIU; FCIU vs Gombe Utd be withdrawn. "LMC, in its review of performance of match officials, has expressed dissatisfaction with NPFL Matchdays 29, 30 and 31 referees.
"The listed referees failed to meet up with the high standard expected in the NPFL and made decisions which were obviously wrong. "LMC has requested that the listed referees be withdrawn from NPFL matches pending a full investigation into their performances."
Referees listed for withdrawal: Umar Mohammed (Matchday 29: Niger Tornadoes vs Plateau United) Aliyu Abdullahi (Matchday 30: Katsina United vs Kano Pillars) Saleh Mohammed (Matchday 30: Plateau United vs IfeanyiUbah) Sam Agba (Matchday 31: IfeanyiUbah vs Gombe United)
Assistant referees listed for withdrawal: Matchday 31: IfeanyiUbah vs Gombe United Assistant Referee 1 Emmanuel Udoh Assistant Referee 2 Felagha Awudola