The Nigeria Premier League, NPL board says they will resist attempts to bring back referees who failed last week's Cooper Test when the league starts later this month.

Some top referees, all FIFA badged like Alex Mana, James Odeniran and Afam Philip failed the test while two of them, Bola Abidoye and Bola Sekitiri asked to be exempted on health grounds.

However, KickOffNigeria.com gathered that there are clandestine moves to see that the unfit referees participate in the league though NPL vice chairman, Shehu Gusau says the league body will resist any such move.

"We know the names of referees that failed the Cooper Test. Even though it is not our duty to determine referees for league games we will not allow the NRA (Nigeria Referees Association) bring in those ones who failed the Cooper Test," Gusau told KickOffNigeria.com.

"Those that failed the test have failed the test so they should not be allowed to be part of the league this season and we will insist on that.

"We are doing our best to see the league improve and having fit referees is one way to ensure that," Gusau said.