Referee’s death during fitness test unfortunate — NFF committee

The Nigeria Football Federation Development Committee has described the recent death of a referee during a fitness test in Abuja as an unfortunate incident, saying the official underwent the required medical examinations before participating in the exercise.

Chairman of the committee, Faith Irabor, said there was no negligence in the medical process leading to the referee’s participation in the fitness test.

Irabor made this known in Abuja while addressing newsmen on Friday in Abuja at the ongoing pre-season fitness and technical training for referees ahead of the 2026/27 football season.

She said referees were required to undergo medical examinations, including an electrocardiogram in their respective states before being cleared to participate in the fitness exercise.

“Before we do any physical fitness test, there are conditions.

The referees will do the ECG from their state of origin. The doctors will certify them fit for the exercise.

“When they come here, they meet the medical team here that will also cross-check and certify them that they are fit to do the exercise,” Irabor said.

According to her, the deceased referee presented a medical report signed by a doctor certifying him fit for the exercise.

She said the medical team of the Nigerian Sports Commission also conducted further checks on the referees using a prescribed medical format before they were cleared.

“He brought his medical report. A doctor signed, certifying him fit for the exercise.

“The medical team also certified them fit because there is a pre-format that we gave them to use, and that was what they used. The papers are there,” she said.

Irabor said officials were also closely monitoring the referees during the physical exercise to respond immediately to any sign of distress.

“Even as they were training, we still followed them as they were training. Everybody stands at alert.

“So, when he was trying to stagger, we saw that and before he fell down, we took him and brought him for resuscitation and they took him to the hospital,” she said.

She also dismissed reports that the ambulance at the venue was not functional when the incident occurred.

“It is not true. The ambulance is working. It was there, and that was what we used to convey him to the hospital.

“We had a standby vehicle and we had an ambulance there. We don’t take people’s lives for granted,” Irabor said.

The chairman described the death as a  very unfortunate event, insisting that all necessary precautions had been taken.

“He had all his records, he was certified by the doctors, and then what happened happened in the field. So, it wasn’t like there was negligence.

“No, there was no negligence at all,” she said.

Irabor, however, said the committee was considering further strengthening the medical screening process to provide additional safeguards for referees.

She said one of the measures being considered was to have referees undergo their medical examinations at the National Hospital rather than relying solely on examinations conducted in their respective states.

“Maybe what we will do, we will be taking more drastic action. Instead of allowing them to come from their home, we go to the National Hospital and ask them to do it, so that all of us will just be on the same page,” she said.

Also speaking, an FCT-based Premier League referee, Ayuba Peter, described the incident as unfortunate and said it should not be attributed to negligence.

“This incident that happened was quite an unfortunate one. I wouldn’t say it was negligence on the part of anyone.

“This is not the first time he was undergoing the test. He has been doing it and has been on the list for a long time,” Peter said.
Peter said referees were aware of the intensity of the fitness exercise and were expected to prepare adequately before participating.

Similarly, Akinwale, a referee from Oyo State, said the incident was unfortunate, noting that referees were required to undergo ECG and further medical checks before taking part in the exercise.
“It was just an unfortunate event. Before you come down to this place, you have to do your ECG.

“Once the ECG gives you assurance that you’re okay and can run this race, you bring the ECG down to this place, and the medical team will check it and do the proper check-up for you,” he said.
Akinwale said the incident should be regarded as an unfortunate occurrence despite the medical procedures in place.

NAN