Five Nigerian referees fail Fifa physical fitness test held at Abuja's National Stadium

FIVE male Nigerian referees have failed a recent Fifa Physical Fitness Test held in Abuja which disqualified them from wearing the global football federation's badges as they did not meet up to the required standards.

 

Fifa regularly holds fitness tests to check the physical state of referees and only those who meet its stringent standards are allowed to wear the federation's badge on their shirts when officiating games. Only Fifa-licensed referees are also allowed to officiate in international matches and tournaments.

 

Over the week, Fifa conducted one such test at the National Stadium in Abuja, to which 16 Nigerian male and female referees were invited to participate. They were invited by the Nigeria Referees Association (NRA) and those who passed were upgraded top Fifa standards, while those who failed were not.

 

Seven male and nine female ungraded referees were invited for the test out of which five male failed. Emmanuel Imiere, an instructor at the programme, who declined to mention the names of the referees, said that five of them have missed the opportunity of being listed as Fifa badge referees.  

 

He added: “This is the first set of non-badge referees that will take this test and it is not easy but some of them didn’t take it serious. About 50% of them passed the test and I am happy for the invited female referees because all of them passed.

 

“Five out of the seven invited male referees failed the test and they will wait till next year for another opportunity. They can come in November for another test for them to qualify to officiate in the national league but as an international referee, no.”