Date: 2017-01-22

Players and officials of Ilorin-based Abubakar Bukola Saraki (ABS) FC were on Saturday lectured by the Kwara Council of Nigeria Referee Association (NRA) on new amendments in football laws.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the lecture and practical aspects took place inside the main bowl of the Kwara Stadium Complex, Ilorin.

The lecture resource persons was led by the council's head of training, Bolatito Issac, a retired Nigeria Professional Football League Referee.

He reminded the players of amendments in their equipment which, he said, had to do with colour combinations and anything that might be injurious to the player or his opponents.

The Vice-Chairman of the council and NPFL accredited Referee Assessor, Tosho Muhammed, took the players on the amendments in the offside rules.

He told the players and their officials to be abreast of the amendments, hence the need to adjust to the new rules.

Mohammed said if the players and officials were not aware of the new rules, they might argue with match officials which might attract a yellow or red card during a game.

He noted that a player could be sent off even before the commencement of the game.

The retired referee also explained that tricking a goalkeeper too many times before a penalty is taken might lead to a direct kick against the taker and attract a yellow card.

The Secretary of the council, Toyin Ibrahim, urged the players and officials to always remember the amendments so that they would not pay for the penalty in the season.

Demonstrations at the lecture were taken by a newly promoted NPFL Referee, Afolabi Maroof.

In attendance were the club's Director of Football, Alloy Chukwuemeka; the team’s Coordinator, Idris Musa, Welfare Officer, Abdallah Ahmed and other members of the Kwara NRA.