NPFL refs to use gadgets next season – Elegbeleye

The Chairman of the Nigeria Premier Football League, Gbenga Elegbeleye, has said referees in the Nigerian topflight will begin to use gadgets to aid their officiating next season as part of efforts by the league board to improve the NPFL.

The 2023/24 season ended on Sunday, with Enugu Rangers winning their eighth title with a five-point gap.

The season didn’t go down without controversial decisions by referees, some of which led to the suspension and expulsion of some of the officials.

Having announced August 31 for the resumption of the 2024/25 season, Elegbeleye said the NPFL board was poised to improve the quality of officiating in the Nigerian topflight.

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

The chairman also highlighted their plans to solidify the youth system of the NPFL.

“We are also going to improve on the youth programme because we made sure all the clubs registered all their feeders’ teams as part of the club licensing last season.

“I am happy a lot of them were in the last Nigeria’s U-17 team and we hope the youth system will become a pool of talents for the national teams and the topflight clubs next season.”

Meanwhile, the Chief Operating Officer of the league, Davison Owumi, noted that fixtures for next season had been drawn and added that the resumption date would be ratified at the clubs’ congress.

“The pressure of events to begin the coming season is another round of pressure. From the NPFL internal workings, we already have that one in place but the league board also needs to call the congress of Nigerian clubs for them to agree.

“It is the only thing left to be done because the fixtures, dates and other things are ready. But we cannot say that because the Congress of Clubs needs to ratify it so that we do not jump the gun.”

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