Nigeria Footballer, Yakubu Suspended For Slapping Referee

The Nasarawa Football Association has suspended Yakubu Hassan, a footballer who plays for Dubagari Football Club, Lafia, a local team in Nasarawa State indefinitely for slapping a centre referee during a football match.

Halidu Akwashiki, Vice Chairman of the association, confirmed the disciplinary action in an interview with a correspondent of News Agency of Nigeria in Lafia on Wednesday.

Akwashiki said that Hassan slapped the centre referee, Kasimu Ahmadu on October 29 during his team’s encounter with another local team, Winda Force Football Club in Nasarawa-Eggon Local Government Area of the state after he was cautioned for an infringement.

NAN reports that the initiative is for local teams across the state and kicked off on September 26 with 30 teams participating and divided into four groups.

Akwashiki described the incident as bizarre and said the FA via the disciplinary committee set up for the competition sat and decided to suspend the player from further participation in the competition.

Akwashiki, who is also chairman of the competition’s disciplinary committee added that aside from the suspension, the player was directed to write an apology letter to the match officials and his club to pay a fine to the FA.

“The actions we took will serve as lessons to other players and clubs never to intimidate or instigate violence against match officials and to adhere strictly to the rules of the game,” he said.

He explained that the incident had been awkward and embarrassing to the match officials and both teams involved in the fixture and even warranted the player’s teammates reprimanding him for his action.

“It was embarrassing for everyone, and I mean everyone including the fans because we all assumed this action is unheard of in this generation but to our surprise, we have been reminded of the dangers match officials face just for doing their jobs; it is sad,” he said.

Also speaking, Mohammed Isa, Secretary General, Nasarawa State Referees Council, expressed his disappointment over the incident and canvassed for stiffer punishment for any player who violently attacks referees in the course of carrying out their duties on the field of play.