The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) revealed on Friday that 20 referees will soon be sent to England for training.
NFF President, Amaju Pinnick, made the announcement at a maiden South-West States Football Forum held in Abeokuta.
Ogun State.
He said 30 referees had attended training earlier in the year, stressing that the training was to acquaint them with modern trends in the sport.
“We are investing so much in referees to develop them,” he said.
Pinnick, however, warned that those found wanting would be blacklisted, stressing, “we expect them to reciprocate the gesture by giving us the best”.
He said the federation had a programme for coaches, while advising referees to develop themselves in the best ways possible.
The Chairman of the Forum, Seyi Akinwunmi, said the forum was all about the development of grassroots football.
Akinwunmi, the 1st Vice-President of NFF, noted that the forum was a non-political association, formed without prejudice to any of other zones of the federation.
“It is constituted to transform football administration by adopting international best practices for positive development of our numerous youths,” he said.
Akinwunmi also said that the forum seeks to put the South-West zone in the front burner of football.
Those present at the brainstorming session, include former Super Eagles coach, Adegboye Onigbinde, former Technical Director, Kasimawo Laloko and former international, Segun Odegbami.
Others are Ayo Omidiran, Rafiu Ladipo, Taiwo Ogunjobi, veteran journalist, Fabio Lanipekun and Ajayi Dada.
