Nigerian Premier League referees are set to clash with the League Management Company over their officiating fees in the 2016/2017 season.
But the referees now want between N120,000 and N150,000 for each match in the coming season.
It was learnt that the Nigerian Referees Association has been under intense pressure from its members to push for an increase in their officiating fees before the new season kicks off.
Some of the referees, who spoke with our correspondent on the condition of anonymity, said the increase was necessary in the face of the current economic challenges facing the country.
“Really, it is becoming necessary to have an increase in the indemnities paid referees by the LMC because things have not been easy in the country,” the source said.
“The challenges of next season will be tougher than what we faced last season because we will to travel to places like Gombe, Katsina and Maiduguri to officiate games.
“And our colleagues in the North will also travel down to the South to officiate games.”
Another referee said, “The cost of travelling to far places to officiate games is very high today. If I leave Lagos for Maiduguri, for instance, I will have to travel ahead of a match and probably lodge in a hotel before getting to Maiduguri. With an indemnity of N70,000, I will be left with nothing.
“We know that the LMC is facing a lot of challenges concerning sponsorship and other things, but it is not too much to pay a referee N120,000 and an assistant referee N100,000 for long-distance league matches.
“Things like these make it difficult to have new recruits in the Nigerian referees’ circuit. No one wants to do something and not get a reward from it.
“In countries like South Africa, refereeing is a job and they are paid full-time and protected by law, but here we are on our own. Some things really need to change.”
However, CAF Referee Assessor, who is a member of the Nigeria Football Federation’s Referees’ Committee, Linus Mba, said only the LMC could increase referees’ wages.
“The question of how much referees are paid for each match is dependent on the LMC. The indemnities varies as referees are paid based on the location of the referee and the distance of the match venue,” he said.
President of the Nigerian Referees Association, Tade Azeez, said an increase in the indemnities would be welcomed by the referees.
“If the LMC increases the indemnities for the new season, it will be a welcome development. Although we have yet to be officially informed about any increase, I believe if such will happen, it will be commensurate with the current challenges in the country,” he told our correspondent.
He added, “We understand what goes on in other climes and we know that Nigerian referees are underpaid when it comes to league officiating. We are also partners in the progress and growth of the league. If the LMC pays N200,000 per referee, it is also a part of the growth we are talking about. Travelling within the country is really expensive and the money will take care of such logistics for the referees.”
credit: punchng
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