Partner With Local VAR Users To Improve Officiating, Salisu Begs NFF

Ado Salisu With The NFF President 

The Nigerian Football Federation  NFF has been urged to as a matter of urgency deploy the use of VAR in Nigeria's premier leagues.

This call was initiated as the result of some happenings in the ongoing premier league matches.

Reacting to the recent match involving Katsina United and Abia Warriors, the former chairman of Media and Publicly of Galadima soccer competition, Ado Salisu said the center referee awarded a goal to the visitors and later disallowed it after consultation with other match officials in Katsina.

"It’s time to sanitize our league and compete with the rest of the world in running the activities of football.

"From what is happening in our league today it’s not good for the game, we’re just showing our lapses to the world, the fans, referees, players, and all stakeholders' attitude is not what the world wants to see."

"NFF should have deployed the VAR in the first instance to help sensitize the system and prepare our minds for the task ahead, then from there we can proceed and proudly broadcast our matches live,'' he explained.

The former National Vice President Northwest added "This was what happened in Kano during the Pre-Season competition of Alhaji Dr. Ibrahim Galadima (former NFA chairman and currently patron Nigeria Olympic Committee) football competition, the organizers first deployed the use of VAR and live streaming in the subsequent editions and  the competition is the most successful transparent football competition in the history of football competition in Kano."

"Most recent events in Katsina United vs Abia Warriors demonstrate what is being transmitted live via streaming in the Nigerian premier league. 

All hands must be on deck to ensure that our football activities are on the right track for posterity and progress,'' he said.

While commending the leadership of NFF led by Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau for his commitment to ensuring the growth of football games across the country, he urged him to redouble efforts in this direction.

Salisu said organizing seminars or workshops for referees on VAR will go a long way in improving the quality and standard of the Nigerian Football Leagues.