NFF logo
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Referees Commission has launched an intensive nationwide training program for match officials and football clubs covering 11 recent amendments to the Laws of the Game ahead of the 2026/27 domestic season.
Speaking to journalists, Chukwudi C. Chukwujekwu, Head of Technical Instructors and member of the NFF Referees Commission, confirmed that 11 out of the 17 laws governing football were updated globally following their debut at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The primary updates focus on player conduct, substitution rules, denial of an obvious goal-scoring opportunity (DOGSO), and cracking down on deliberate time-wasting.
Strict New Rules on Time-Wasting and Substitutions
Among the major adjustments, football authorities have introduced strict enforcement on player substitutions to maintain match tempo and eliminate restart delays:
10-Second Exit Rule: An offgoing substituted player must leave the pitch within 10 seconds. Failure to do so prevents the incoming substitute from entering immediately.
Numerical Disadvantage: If a player exceeds the 10-second limit, the team will be forced to play with ten men for a minimum of one minute, extending until the ball next goes out of play.
Multi-Player Protocol: Where multiple simultaneous substitutions incur delays, referees are instructed to hold back only one incoming player to enforce a single-player numerical disadvantage as a deterrent.
Major updates were also made to Law 3 (Players and Substitutions), Law 12 (Fouls and Misconduct/DOGSO), as well as Laws 14, 16, and 17.
Nationwide Outreach and Referee Readiness
To prevent friction between match officials and teams, the NFF Referees Commission conducted direct sensitization visits across all 20 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) clubs. Similar educational sessions are planned for the Nigeria National League (NNL), Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL), and Nationwide League One (NLO).
Faith Irabor, Chairman of the NFF Development Committee, confirmed that referee preparation includes rigorous physical fitness tests, theoretical classroom instruction, and practical pitch exercises.
With the league scheduled to kickoff this week, Irabor expressed confidence that the comprehensive training will elevate officiating consistency and tactical understanding across Nigerian football.
