Sporting Lagos head coach Jeffery Buter has been invited to appear before a Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) panel to substantiate allegations of collusion involving the league management and the Nigeria Referees Association over the outcome of his team’s match against Ikorodu City. The development follows Buter’s comments on match……
Sporting Lagos head coach Jeffery Buter has been invited to appear before a Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) panel to substantiate allegations of collusion involving the league management and the Nigeria Referees Association over the outcome of his team’s match against Ikorodu City.
The development follows Buter’s comments on match officiating after Sporting Lagos played out a goalless draw with Ikorodu City in the rescheduled Lagos Derby at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, on September 30. TVC News had earlier reported the coach’s concerns over officiating in the NPFL, including his criticism of the league board and the Nigeria Referees Association.
According to an update by EuroMatch-NPFL on X on Monday, Buter has been asked to appear before a panel on Wednesday at the NPFL meeting room.
The post reads, “Sporting Lagos head coach, Jeffery Buter has been invited to substantiate allegations of collusion by #EUROMATCHNPFL management & the Nigeria Referees Association to influence the outcome of their match against Ikorodu City.
Buter is billed to face a panel on Wednesday at the NPFL meeting room. He has been asked in a letter to come with evidence to support his allegations, which was published in several social media platforms.”
The league body said the Sporting Lagos coach was invited to provide evidence supporting allegations he made in comments that were subsequently published across several social media platforms.
Read Also: Sporting Lagos Coach Jeffery Butter Laments Refereeing in NPFL
Buter had previously criticised the standard of officiating in the league, following Sporting Lagos’ 1-1 draw with Barau FC and the subsequent goalless draw against Ikorodu City. He argued that refereeing decisions were affecting the image of the competition.
“They say I am bringing the league into disrepute. The referees are bringing the league to disrepute and not me. If they are not going to fix it, the league is not going anywhere,” Buter said after the Lagos Derby.
The coach had also alleged that Sporting Lagos experienced poor officiating in consecutive matches and questioned why disciplinary warnings had been issued to him while, in his view, referees involved in the disputed matches had not faced similar action.
The invitation comes after the NPFL recently reminded clubs, coaches and officials that complaints concerning officiating should be channelled through established administrative procedures rather than through public statements capable of bringing the league or its officials into disrepute.
Buter is expected to present any evidence supporting his allegations before the panel on Wednesday, with the outcome of the hearing potentially determining whether further disciplinary action will be taken against him.
