The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, has handed referee Yakubu Adamu an indefinite suspension from all football-related activities following his controversial officiating during the Nigeria Premier Football League clash between Rangers International FC and Bendel Insurance FC.
The sanction was announced by the NFF Refereeing Development Committee after reviewing Adamu’s decision to award a penalty during the match, a call the committee said was inconsistent with the Laws of the Game. The disputed decision resulted in a goal and ultimately influenced the outcome of the encounter.
In a statement released through the official NPFL communication channels, the committee said, “Referee Yakubu Adamu has been suspended indefinitely with immediate effect by @thenff Refereeing Development Committee from all league & football matters.” The statement added that Adamu was sanctioned “for his decision to award a penalty during the Rangers vs Bendel Insurance match which is not in line with the provisions of the Law of the Game.”
The NFF further stated that the referee’s action “did not only result in a goal but also affected the outcome of the match & brought the game into disrepute.”
The decision has triggered fresh debate over officiating standards in the NPFL, especially as the 2025/2026 season approaches its conclusion with intense competition at both ends of the table. The Rangers-Bendel Insurance fixture had drawn significant attention due to its implications in the league standings, with Rangers remaining firmly in contention in the closing stages of the campaign.
The controversy has also renewed calls from stakeholders for improved referee training, stricter performance assessment and the possible introduction of technological support systems to reduce contentious decisions in Nigerian football. Officiating standards have remained a recurring issue in the domestic league, with clubs and supporters repeatedly expressing concerns over inconsistent refereeing decisions.
The indefinite suspension of Adamu is seen as one of the strongest disciplinary actions taken by the NFF Refereeing Development Committee this season, as the federation seeks to reinforce accountability and restore confidence in officiating across the NPFL.
