By Iroyin Yoruba Television
The Nigeria Premier Football League has warned coaches, club officials and other stakeholders against making public statements that could undermine the credibility of referees or damage the reputation of the league.
The warning was contained in a memorandum issued by the league's Chief Operating Officer, Ayo Abdulrahman, as the 2026/27 NPFL season continues.
The league said clubs with concerns about match officiating must use the established procedures for submitting complaints instead of publicly criticising referees or league officials.
The directive follows comments by Sporting Lagos head coach Jeffery Buter after his team's Matchday 6 encounter with Barau FC in Lagos.
NPFL REMINDS CLUBS OF ITS RULES
According to the league, the warning is based on provisions contained in the NPFL Framework and Rules for the 2026/27 season.
The regulations prohibit players, coaches and club officials from making public criticism or disparaging statements about the league and its officials.
The NPFL said clubs already have formal mechanisms through which complaints concerning refereeing decisions and other league matters can be presented.
The league therefore urged teams to ensure that their representatives follow those procedures when they believe an officiating decision requires review.
The warning also makes clear that future breaches could result in disciplinary action under the league's rules.
SPORTING LAGOS INCIDENT
The latest directive followed a video interview involving Sporting Lagos coach Jeffery Buter that circulated publicly after the club's Matchday 6 fixture against Barau FC.
The NPFL said comments made during the interview questioned the integrity of the centre referee.
The league responded by reminding all participating clubs that concerns about refereeing must be handled through the appropriate channels.
The intervention comes during the early part of the new NPFL season, when officiating decisions can attract strong reactions from coaches, players and supporters.
WHY THE LEAGUE IS EMPHASISING THE RULES
Football matches frequently produce disputed decisions, particularly when results depend on penalties, goals, disciplinary decisions or other incidents involving match officials.
The NPFL's latest position is that disagreements should be dealt with through its established disciplinary and administrative processes.
This allows complaints to be formally examined rather than becoming public disputes between clubs, coaches and officials.
The league also linked its position to the need to protect the reputation of the competition and maintain relationships with existing and potential commercial partners.
For the NPFL, maintaining confidence in the competition is important as clubs compete for results while the league works to strengthen its commercial and organisational structure.
WHAT CLUBS ARE EXPECTED TO DO
Under the directive, clubs that believe they have been affected by poor officiating are expected to document their concerns and submit them through the appropriate league channels.
That approach gives the relevant authorities an opportunity to examine complaints within the framework governing the competition.
The process also separates legitimate complaints from public statements that could potentially expose individuals or clubs to disciplinary proceedings.
Coaches and club officials therefore face the responsibility of communicating their concerns in ways that comply with the competition's rules.
OFFICIATING REMAINS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE
Refereeing is a regular subject of debate in Nigerian football, with clubs and supporters often scrutinising decisions during matches.
The introduction and enforcement of formal complaint procedures are intended to provide a structured way of addressing such disagreements.
For referees, the league's directive provides a reminder that match officials remain protected by the competition's regulations while performing their duties.
For clubs, however, the existence of disciplinary rules does not remove the ability to challenge decisions. Instead, complaints are expected to be raised through the mechanisms provided by the league.
The balance between allowing legitimate criticism and protecting the integrity of the competition is therefore an important part of the league's administration.
DISCIPLINARY ACTION POSSIBLE
The NPFL warned that further breaches of the relevant provisions could attract disciplinary measures.
The league did not announce a new punishment against every club or coach covered by the directive. Rather, the memorandum serves as a reminder of the existing rules and the consequences of future violations.
Clubs have consequently been placed on notice that public comments concerning referees and league officials could result in action if they breach the applicable provisions.
THE NEXT PHASE OF THE NPFL SEASON
The 2026/27 season remains at an early stage, meaning clubs still have a long campaign ahead of them.
As matches continue, disputes over officiating are likely to remain part of the competition. The league's latest directive establishes how it expects those disputes to be handled.
Rather than allowing disagreements to develop into public confrontations, the NPFL wants clubs to use its formal complaint and disciplinary procedures.
The effectiveness of that approach will depend on clubs using the available channels and the league responding transparently and consistently to legitimate complaints.
For now, the message from the league is clear: coaches and officials are expected to respect the competition's rules when discussing referees and officiating decisions, while concerns about matches should be submitted through the established procedures.