A retired FIFA-Graded Referee, Festus Okubule, on Wednesday faulted the officiating of the Super Eagles opening match against Iran at the ongoing World Cup finals in Brazil.
Okubule said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos that the officiating would have been better handled.
The former Chairman of the Nigeria Referees Association said that there were lots of fouls committed in the match.
He said: “The officiating could have been better; there were lots of fouls that offenders deserved to be given yellow cards but none was issued.
“That’s not to say that the officiating was poor but personally, I feel the match officials chose to turn a blind eye to them, for reasons best known to them.
“But in general, I think the officiating has being fair, coupled with the goal-line technology introduced by FIFA.”
Okubule urged the Super Eagles not to be discouraged due to the goalless draw in their Group F opening match against Iran.
The Super Eagles next brawl at the ongoing 2014 World Cup will be against Bosnia Herzegovina on June 21.
The 2014 World Cup tournament kicked off on June 12 in Brazil.
Follow The Eagle Online Channel on WhatsApp
