The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has suspended referee Yakubu Adamu indefinitely from all football activities, following his controversial officiating during the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) match between Rangers International and Bendel Insurance in Enugu.
In an official statement released by the NFF Refereeing Development Committee, the body said, “Referee Yakubu Adamu has been suspended indefinitely with immediate effect from all league and football matters.
Mr. Adamu is sanctioned for his decision to award a penalty during the Rangers vs Bendel Insurance match which is not in line with the provisions of the Laws of the Game.
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The referee’s action did not only result in a goal but also affected the outcome of the match and brought the game into disrepute.
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The he penalty, awarded late in the encounter, was converted by Rangers and proved decisive in their 2‑1 victory.
The decision sparked widespread criticism and intensified concerns about officiating standards in the NPFL, particularly at a crucial stage of the season where the title race, continental qualification, and relegation battles remain fiercely contested.
Rangers, one of the leading contenders for the championship, head into the final round of fixtures with every point carrying significant weight.
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The suspension of Adamu has therefore drawn attention not only to the match itself but also to the broader issue of refereeing consistency in Nigerian football.
The NFF’s disciplinary action comes at a sensitive point in the NPFL campaign and underscores the federation’s effort to reinforce discipline and restore confidence in officiating standards as the season approaches its conclusion.
