A former Nigerian President once described a particular sect in the country as merely a dot in a circle—insignificant when weighed against the nation’s overwhelming challenges. As true as that analogy may be, even the smallest dot can matter, if the right things are done at the right time.

 

That analogy came to mind while reading the communiqué issued by the leadership of the NNL Club Chairmen following their Mid-Season Retreat in Ikenne, Ogun State.

 

In the communiqué, the club chairmen strongly criticized the standard of officiating in the opening phase of the 2025/2026 season, describing it as unacceptable and capable of dragging the league into disrepute. They went as far as proposing the outright expulsion of any referee found to have compromised or failed to properly apply the Laws of the Game.

 

They also unanimously resolved that any match venue associated with hooliganism, harassment, or disruption of games should face severe sanctions.

 

BOX 18 found these resolutions rather amusing. Once again, referees were conveniently cast as the sole villains—the scapegoats and supposed architects of everything wrong with the league. My late father used to say, “If there is no giver, there can be no taker.” It takes two to tango. In my over four decades of following Nigerian football, I have never heard of referees forcefully demanding inducements from clubs. Rather, it is almost always club officials who approach referees, seeking favors that bend or outright violate the rules of the game.

 

BOX 18 believes this recommendation is grossly one-sided. Justice demands that both the giver and the taker be punished. I once half-jokingly suggested that the best way to tackle biased officiating in Nigeria is to establish a “football shrine,” where club owners and referees would swear an oath before the start of every season. Anyone who violates the principles of fair officiating should suffer the consequences of the oath—perhaps even grow a protruding belly like a nine-month-old pregnancy. Only then would the real enemies of the game reveal themselves.

 

The challenges of refereeing in Nigeria are multifaceted. Referees remain one of the most critical pillars of football development. Their duty to enforce the Laws of the Game is fundamental, and in many cases, they are believed—rightly or wrongly—to determine match outcomes. As such, they are expected to be fair, firm, and disciplined.

 

However, it is evident that many of the same club owners accusing referees of bribery and bias are often the masterminds behind such practices. They actively seek favors from referees, who are human and vulnerable. This culture severely undermines the integrity of the league. Poor remuneration and delayed payments further worsen the situation, leaving referees financially exposed and susceptible to corruption and external pressure.

 

On the issue of harassment, intimidation, and hooliganism at match venues, such incidents rarely occur without the tacit approval—or outright encouragement—of club owners. In most cases, club officials empower hooligans to intimidate referees and opposing teams when results do not favor them.

 

Nigeria’s football problems, like the country’s broader challenges, are complex and deeply rooted. They cannot be conveniently dumped at the doorstep of one group alone.

 

The decision by NNL club owners to single out referees for crucifixion without first sanitizing themselves is laughable. Their communiqué amounts to nothing more than academic rhetoric—grand statements that will likely amount to nothing by the end of the season.

 

If genuine improvement is desired in the nation’s most important league, club owners must take a holistic and honest look inward. Once they commit to playing by the rules and upholding integrity, addressing refereeing deficiencies and curbing hooliganism will become far easier.