FIFA scandal ‘for the good of the game’ —NRA boss

By LUKMAN OLOGUNRO

The ongoing FIFA scandal which reached its peak with the accusation and confirmation of top FIFA officials in massive bribery scandal will help the game further in the future. This was the submission of the President of the Nigeria Referee Association, Mr. Tade Azeez.

Azeez, who is also the vice president of the Lagos State Football Association said, developments in the Zurich-based organization will help those coming after the Sepp Blatter era not to tow the lines of their predecessors.

Bribery allegations against FIFA President Blatter and some members of the executive committee has resulted into the Swiss- who despite winning an election for a fifth time in office- throwing in the towel as the head of the Federation with election for his successor coming in months.

“One thing that most people especially stakeholders in football doesn’t even know is that aside the soiled reputation of FIFA, the whole scandal is for the good of the game because the people that will be going into FIFA now will not want a repeat of what led to the exit of those that left office which will help in the fair play spirit that has constantly been preached by it (FIFA),” Azeez told Sports Hallmark in an interview.

Azeez, under whose tenure has seen lots of improvement in officiating in the Nigerian league, said the NRA will not spare any of its members that compromised the standard of officiating in reference to the indefinite suspension of three referees recently.

“Part of the reforms that I promised before I came into office is to make sure that the standard of officiating in Nigeria rates among the best in the world and it is just natural that we wield the big stick on anyone who does not measure up to the standard,” he stated.