Kunle Soname, chairman of Remo Stars FC, on Wednesday raised the alarm over what he described as a deep-rooted crisis in match officiating in Nigeria, calling for an urgent and total overhaul of the Referees’ Appointment Committee to restore credibility to Nigerian domestic football.

Addressing a press conference, Soname said he was speaking not merely as a club owner but as a stakeholder concerned about the future and integrity of the game in the country.

He lamented that no Nigerian referee has been selected for the Africa Cup of Nations in the last 17 years, attributing the drought to compromised standards in the domestic league.

According to him, poor officiating—often appearing “fraudulent or grossly incompetent”—has systematically eroded the credibility required for Nigerian referees to earn international appointments.

He stressed that the problem goes beyond isolated mistakes and represents a dangerous pattern threatening the integrity of the Nigeria Premier Football League.

Soname presented video evidence of at least five recent incidents that underline the severity of the problem.

Among them, he cited two clear penalties denied to Remo Stars in a single match, a blatant foul ignored against his team that directly resulted in an opposition goal, and a wrongly disallowed legitimate goal scored by Rangers International against Rivers United, which he noted to show that the crisis is league-wide and not club-specific.

There was also a foul against a Shooting Stars defender before an attacking player of Barau went on to score a goal.

“These are not 50–50 calls,” Soname said. “They are blatant errors captured on video—decisions that directly change match outcomes and contradict all available evidence.”

He revealed that he had sent the video clips to the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) and that the chairperson of the Referee Appointment Committee, Faith Irabor.

The video clips have also been analysed by match officials in Europe, and the conclusion was the same – the referees in question all erred.

He placed responsibility for oversight on the Referees’ Appointment Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation, accusing the body of enabling the crisis by failing to sanction poor performances and by offering implausible justifications for obvious errors.

As an example, Soname referenced a controversial decision involving Insurance FC of Benin, where a clear foul leading to a goal went unpunished.

According to Soname, the committee, chaired by Mrs Faith Irabor, issued a baffling justification, stating, “The attacker was in a hot chase… It is not tripping, and no other offence was committed.” This demands scrutiny, especially given that Mrs Irabor was previously a Director in the Edo State Sports Commission, and the officiating team for that match was changed just two days prior.

He questioned the committee’s defence of the decision and raised concerns about transparency after changes were reportedly made to the officiating team just days before the match.

Soname argued that citing issues such as the absence of pre-season seminars to excuse incorrect decisions amounted to an admission of systemic failure rather than a valid defence.

He called on the NFF, NPFL management and the Referees’ Committee to urgently review the cited incidents, enforce accountability and rebuild confidence in the league. More critically, he insisted that the Referees’ Appointment Committee must be comprehensively restructured.

“Football thrives on fairness,” Soname said. “Our players deserve fairness, our fans deserve honesty, and our league deserves integrity. Nigerian football deserves better.”

He concluded by inviting questions from the media, signalling his readiness to pursue the matter in the interest of reforming Nigerian football.

Video clips of some matches where officiating raises grave concern

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By Andrew Ekejiuba

One of the most persistent challenges sports assets face globally is how best to curb the activities of ambush marketers. As the name implies, ambush marketing is a parasitic promotional strategy in which an advertiser “ambushes” an event to compete for visibility against official sponsors.

Another school of thought describes ambush marketing as a tactic through which a company aligns itself with a major event, such as the Olympics, the FIFA World Cup, or leading football leagues, without paying the official sponsorship fees, thereby diverting attention from legitimate sponsors.

This is often achieved by “piggybacking” on an event’s popularity through clever but unofficial advertising techniques, such as sponsoring athletes, hosting fringe events, or running themed campaigns that create a false sense of affiliation.

Numerous high-profile examples across global sport illustrate the harmful effects of this practice, hence the need for this second part of this subject matter.

Fundamentally, ambush marketers operate by creating a commercial link to an event without acquiring the rights. They target large and widely viewed sporting events, and they gain visibility through the backdoor by capitalizing on the event’s audience, prestige, and goodwill. Typical methods include sponsoring participants, staging promotional activities near official venues, hosting event-themed parties, or deploying aggressive social media tie-ins.

However, the dangers associated with ambush marketing are substantial, legally, ethically, and commercially. These practices undermine the exclusivity purchased by official sponsors and can mislead consumers regarding the authenticity of a brand’s connection to the event.

In many jurisdictions, including Nigeria, these actions may constitute trademark infringement or unfair competition, exposing offending companies to litigation, regulatory sanctions, and reputational damage.

Ambush marketing manifests in several forms, each carrying different levels of legal and ethical exposure:

1. Direct Ambush Marketing: Explicitly attempting to associate with an event, often by infringing on trademarks or protected intellectual property.

2. Predatory Ambushing: Intentionally attacking or overshadowing a competitor’s official sponsorship to divert attention.

3. Trademark Infringement: Unauthorized use of official event logos, names, symbols, or slogans.

4. Self-Ambushing: When an official sponsor exceeds its contractual rights by engaging in additional promotional activities not permitted under the sponsorship agreement.

5. Indirect Ambush Marketing: Subtle tactics that evoke the event without using protected IP or claiming sponsorship.

6. Ambush by Association: Using imagery, themes, colours, or cultural cues that create an implied link to the event.

7. Values Ambushing: Aligning a campaign with the broader values or themes of an event (e.g., female empowerment during a major women’s sporting event) to create emotional association.

8. Intrusion/Distraction: Executing marketing activities or placing advertisements in or around designated “clean zones” to capture attention that should rightfully accrue to official sponsors.

In summary, the most effective way to avoid the legal and reputational risks associated with ambush marketing is for brands to engage transparently and invest in official sponsorship arrangements.

Whether for major properties such as the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) or the President’s Federation Cup (PFC), authentic sponsorship ensures compliance with trademark and intellectual property laws and promotes a fair commercial environment.

Companies that attempt to leverage events through ambush tactics often face litigation, financial penalties, and long-term damage to corporate credibility.

Andrew Ekejiuba is the GTI Head of Media and Publicity

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By Ugochukwu Okeiyi, Enugu

Enugu Rangers Technical Adviser, Fidelis Ikechukwu, has suggested that the club may strengthen its squad when the January transfer window opens, following his side’s emphatic 4–1 victory over Bayelsa United in a Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Matchday 16 fixture at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium on Sunday.

Ikechukwu, who praised his players’ commitment after the dominant display, said the technical crew would continue to monitor the mental readiness and fitness levels of the squad as they assess potential reinforcements.

The former Plateau United and Heartland FC coach stressed that only players who demonstrate consistency, discipline, and hard work will earn places in the matchday squad.

“Scoring four goals is exciting for our confidence and team chemistry,” Ikechukwu said, commending the collective effort and high work rate that powered the Flying Antelopes to their eighth league win of the season.

Bayelsa United coach, Mahamo Okara, expressed disappointment at his team’s performance, admitting that conceding early and cheaply in the first half made their task nearly impossible.

“They dictated the game and deserved their win,” Okara said. “We tried to reorganize after the break, but at that point, we were already chasing the match.”

The victory lifts Rangers to fourth on the NPFL table with 25 points from 16 games. They next travel to Benin City for a tough clash against Bendel Insurance at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium on December 13.

Bayelsa United, still struggling to find stability following the departure of former coach Monday Odigie, sit 14th with 20 points. The Restoration Boys will host defending champions Remo Stars next weekend in Yenagoa as they search for a turnaround in form.

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