A former Chairman of the Gombe Football Association, Alh. Gara Gombe has called for more strict measures towards sanitizing the quality of officiating in the domestic leagues.
Gara Gombe who has a knack for quality football and sports development made this in an online chat where he stated categorically that making provisions for punishing match officials and players who are involved in sport betting without an option of fine is one of the ways to address the corrupt officiating which has reduced the quality of football in the domestic league.
“It’s so sad that players and officials at times know the result of matches even before they are played and this does it bring credibility to the domestic league”.
Gombe further added that there was a need to declare a state of emergency for Refereeing in Nigeria and during this period , Refereeing should be professionalized by an Act of parliament like the Engineering, Medical amongst others.
He further added that a transition programme be developed so that automatic retirement after five years of practice be implemented while a new orientation programme for younger professional referees be encouraged.
The outspoken sport administrator also recommended that corporate partners and sponsors who shall be responsible for Refereeing be engaged and they should deal director with the professional body of referees in Nigeria to allow for objectivity and undue interference.
It’s sad that players and officials at times know the outcome of matches even before they are played and this does not bring credible to the domestic league.





