The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Referees Development Unit has announced the immediate stepping down of referee Abdulmalik Abdulmalik from officiating in the Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL). This decision comes in the wake of alleged incorrect calls made by Abdulmalik during a match between Katsina United and Abia Warriors on March 24, 2024.
Hailing from the Bauchi Referees’ Council, Abdulmalik’s decisions during the game have been deemed detrimental to the league’s integrity and reputation. In a letter addressed to the referee and signed by Mohammed Ameenu, the chairman of the NFF Referees Committee, it was stated that Abdulmalik’s actions not only impacted the match’s outcome but also brought the game into disrepute.
The letter read: “I am directed to notify you that you have been stepped down with immediate effect from the league until further notice.”
Abdulmalik’s removal adds him to the growing list of referees sanctioned by the NFF as part of its ongoing efforts to uphold the integrity and credibility of the NPFL. Earlier in the 2023/24 season, the federation had stepped down 14 referees for various infractions that compromised the league’s collective welfare. Among them were Bawa Buhari, Chukwuka Jahlove, Akinwale Tomiwa, Saeed Abdulaziz, Jimmy Aimugbonrie, Brown Ebenezer, Atuwho Morrison, Imamu Maliki, and Sunday Azi.
In a related incident, the federation recently suspended Mohammed Gata for alleged poor officiating during a match between Katsina United and Heartland on matchday 24, which ended in a 1-1 draw at the Muhammad Dikko Stadium.
