Akure — The government of Ondo State weekend accused the Nigeria Football League NFL of malpractices and called for the probe of its activities in the areas of appointment of referees in the officiating of matches and favoritism to some clubs. The state criticised the manner in which referees for matches in the professional league division 1B were being appointed. Prince Mafo alleged that the leadership of the NFL used "the appointment of referees to favour some teams at the expense of the others". According to him "the referees appointed to officiate matches involving Sunshine Stars had been frustrating the efforts of the players and the management of the team at gaining promotion. The Sunshine Stars, he pointed out, "have been facing problems during the season due to the unprofessional decisions of some referees and the board of the NFL.

According to him the NFL has decided to promote Ebonyi Football Club at the expenses of other clubs in the professional league 1A. The commissioner said that "division 1B of the professional league was yet to be completed due to the decision of the board, while that of division 1A had since been completed. The NFL he declared had been "contravening the provisions of the rules guiding the country's football in its decisions over some of the complaints lodged by the club".

He therefore asked the NFA to "suspend the remaining matches in Pro-league one until the allegations of matches and referees fixing are investigated by the NFA and Sports Ministry against NFL. The commissioner said that "the board had been taking series of decisions that favoured Ebonyi Angels Football Club of Abakaliki in order to ensure that the club gained promotion at the end of the season.

"Everything they have done in the last five weeks in the NFL showed that the board has made up its mind to ensure that Ebonyi Angels get promotion to the premier league. "Article 46 (2 &4) of the NFL says a player cannot cross from amateur division to play in the professional league in the same season. Two players of Ebonyi Angels that played against us were guilty of this offence and the NFL did not penalise them".