Nigerian businessman and philanthropist Tony Elumelu has called on the Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) to improve the standard of officiating at the ongoing FIFA World Cup, warning that poor refereeing could undermine the integrity of the game.
In a post on his verified X handle on Friday, Elumelu, who is the founder of The Tony Elumelu Foundation, a Pan-African entrepreneurship initiative designed to empower African entrepreneurs through a multi-year programme of training, funding, and mentoring, commended the African teams that represented the continent at the tournament, saying they had showcased the quality of African football on the global stage.
“Well done to all the African countries that represented our continent at the World Cup. You made Africa proud and showed the world what African football is capable of,” he wrote.
While praising the performances of the African sides, Elumelu urged FIFA to address concerns over the quality of officiating.
“But @FIFAWorldCup needs to improve the standard of refereeing because if poor officiating continues, it will damage the game,” he said.
He congratulated the participating African nations once again, adding, “Congratulations once again to every African team.”
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