NPFL Referees to Use Gadgets Next Season – Elegbeleye

As part of the league board’s efforts to improve the Nigeria Premier Football League, Gbenga Elegbeleye, the league’s CEO, has announced that from next season, referees will start using technology to make refereeing easier.

Sunday was the conclusion of the 2023-2024 season, with Enugu Rangers securing their ninth title by five points.

Refereeing decisions have been controversial at times throughout the season, with some decisions resulting in the suspension or dismissal of some officials.

Announcing the resumption of the 2024/25 season on August 31, Elegbeleye said the NPFL board was ready to improve the quality of officiating in Nigeria’s top flight.

“There is no perfect league anywhere in the world and we are still going through stages of development. Next season we will introduce some gadgets for referees,” Elegbeleye said via NPFL match commentator Sebastine Emmanuel.

The Chairman also highlighted plans to strengthen the NPFL youth system.

“We also intend to improve the youth program as we ensured that all clubs registered all their teams under the club license last season.

“I am happy that many of them played in the last Nigeria Under-17 team and we hope that the youth system will become a talent pool for national teams and top clubs next season.”

Meanwhile, the league’s chief operating officer, Davison Owumi, noted that the fixtures for next season have been drawn, adding that the resumption date will be ratified at the club congress.

“The pressure of events to start the upcoming season is another round of pressure. The internal arrangements of the NPFL are that we have it now, but the league board also needs to convene a congress of Nigerian clubs for them to agree to it.

“That’s the only thing left to do, because the meeting dates, dates and other things are ready. But we can’t say that because the Congress of Clubs has to ratify it so that we don’t let it go.”