NPFL: NFF Suspends Two Referees Indefinitely Over Disallowed Kwara United Goal as Tenebe Petitions Over Rangers’ Controversial Goal
By Marian Alekhue
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has indefinitely suspended referee Abdulrasheed Jimoh and assistant referee Adamu Zakari over the disallowance of a goal scored by Kwara United against Rangers International in their Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Matchday 12 encounter.
The decision followed a controversial incident during Sunday’s fixture at the Awka Township Stadium, where Alex Jerry’s 78th-minute effort was ruled out for an infringement, despite subsequent reviews by the football authorities establishing that the goal was valid.
The NPFL confirmed the development on Tuesday through its official X account, stating:
“Referee Abdulrasheed Jimoh & assistant referee Adamu Zakari have been suspended indefinitely by @thenff refereeing development committee for what it described as the cancellation of a ‘validly scored goal’ by Kwara Utd against Rangers on Sunday.”
Rangers had taken the lead through Victor Chimezie’s 40th-minute strike before holding on to secure all three points.
The development has further intensified concerns over officiating standards in the NPFL, particularly following another controversial incident involving Rangers International and Bendel Insurance FC.
In a related development, Bendel Insurance FC Chairman, Chief Jarrett Tenebe, has formally challenged the circumstances surrounding a goal awarded to Rangers during their rescheduled Matchday 9 encounter against the Benin Arsenal.
Tenebe, through separate petitions and correspondences to the relevant football authorities, protested the validity of the goal, alleging that the goalpost had been displaced before the ball crossed the goal line.
The Bendel Insurance chairman called for the incident to be properly investigated and the goal annulled, insisting that the displacement of the goalpost raised fundamental questions about the validity of the goal and the application of the Laws of the Game.
The club subsequently pursued the matter through formal correspondence with the Nigeria Premier Football League and the Nigeria Football Federation, seeking appropriate intervention and a review of the disputed incident.
The controversy generated further exchanges between Bendel Insurance and the NPFL, with the league communicating its position on the protest in a response dated November 6, 2026.
Tenebe’s petitions have brought renewed attention to the importance of strict adherence to football regulations, particularly Law 1 of the Laws of the Game, which governs the field of play and the goalposts.
The suspension of the two officials over the Kwara United incident has also reinforced calls for greater accountability, transparency and consistency in refereeing decisions in the domestic league.
With clubs increasingly challenging controversial decisions, the latest development presents another opportunity for the NFF and NPFL to strengthen officiating standards and restore confidence among participating teams and football supporters.
