The was contained in a communiqué signed by the Communiqué Drafting Committee led by Mallam Ahmed Usman Egye, with Mallam Anas Bamusa as member and Mr. Nicholas Akujobi as secretary.
The retreat, jointly convened by the NNL Board and the Nigeria National League Club Owners and Managers Association (NALCOMA), expressed deep concern over what it described as the unacceptable standard of officiating witnessed during the first stanza of the 2025/2026 league season.
The body warned that poor and compromised officiating poses a serious threat to the credibility and integrity of the league.
In a strongly worded communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, the retreat resolved that any referee who compromises or fails to correctly apply the Laws of the Game during NNL matches should be expelled from the league without hesitation.
“The standard of officiating in the first stanza was bemoaned and declared unacceptable, capable of bringing the league into disrepute,” the communiqué stated.
As a corrective measure, the retreat formally requested that referees from the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) be drafted to officiate matches in the second stanza of the 2025/2026 season.
The move, according to stakeholders, is aimed at restoring confidence, ensuring fairness, and raising the overall quality of officiating across the league.
The retreat also condemned, in strong terms, the win-at-home-at-all-cost mentality of some clubs, as well as the harassment and intimidation of match officials, warning that venues found to encourage hooliganism or disrupt matches would face heavy sanctions.
The NNL and NALCOMA reaffirmed their joint commitment to improving league standards while applauding the cordial working relationship between both bodies, even as they called for improved communication in league administration.
The Mid-Season Retreat was hosted at the ultra-modern Remo Stars Stadium, Ikenne, by Hon. Kunle Soname, who was commended for providing a world-class facility for the meeting.
