Mic Drop: NPFL referees get long-awaited communication tech with VAR training in sight

For the first time in its 52-year history, referees in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) will use communication aides during games.

This was announced by Ibrahim Gusau, President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), at the league’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Abuja, noting that it would improve officiating in the 2024/25 season and beyond.

“We have concluded the procurement of communication gadgets that can minimise errors, and these will be available for the new season,” Gusua said as he declared the AGM open.

The NPFL has been marred in different areas, especially around refereeing decisions. Many of these decisions and resulting aftermath could have been avoided with proper communication between the centre referees and their assistants on the sidelines.

Communication devices are commonly used in more developed leagues and first appeared in the English league in 1999. Since then referees easily communicate with their assistants despite the fast pace of matches.

Technological advancements have also seen the use of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in football which helps referees make near-accurate decisions — not without its controversies. Leagues around the world are systematically adopting the technology.

For Nigeria to catch up, the NFF president revealed that the Federation would work with international partners to train Nigerian referees to operate the VAR. Gusau, however, did not state how it would be implemented in the league.

Gbenga Elegbeleye, Chairman of the NPFL, in his opening address, stated that the league is poised to improve on the gains of the last two seasons.

“We know that the NPFL still has room for improvement, and our objective this season is to build on recent successes,” he said.

The 2024/25 NPFL season is scheduled to kick off on August 31 with the eventual champions to take home 200 million in prize money.