The North East Region Football Referees Association has taken a significant step toward strengthening football officiating in the region through a comprehensive regional training programme for match officials and instructors.
The training, held on Saturday, 15 August 2026, at the Municipal Government Secondary School Conference Hall in Makeni, brought together 81 participants, comprising 72 football officials and nine instructors. The programme focused on preparing match officials for the 2026/2027 football season through a clear, uniform and practical understanding of the latest amendments to the Laws of the Game.
As modern football continues to evolve, match officiating must equally adapt to new developments. The regional training was therefore designed not merely as a classroom exercise, but as a professional preparation programme aimed at ensuring that referees understand what has changed, why the changes have been introduced, and how they should be correctly applied during matches.
The 2026/2027 amendments introduce several changes affecting areas such as match management, substitutions, restarts and other aspects of officiating. The training provided officials with an opportunity to study these amendments and strengthen their practical understanding ahead of the new season.
Providing technical leadership to the programme was Alhaji Sanusi Rashid, Referees Manager and a FIFA and CAF-accredited instructor. His expertise contributed significantly to the technical delivery of the training.
Rahim Sanusi, Technical Instructor from the Western Area and Media Officer of the National Football Referees Organisation, also brought valuable technical knowledge and national-level refereeing experience to the programme.
Speaking during the ceremony on behalf of the North East Region Football Association (NERFA), Balla Kargbo emphasized the importance of competent and well-prepared match officials in maintaining the quality and credibility of football.
“I am particularly encouraged by the strong participation of the officials and instructors. This level of participation demonstrates the commitment of our refereeing fraternity to continuous learning, professional development and the pursuit of excellence,” he noted. »
Kargbo further expressed appreciation to the instructors for their technical leadership and commended the North East Region Football Referees Association for its continued contribution to the development of football officiating in the region.
The successful completion of the training is expected to enhance the preparedness, consistency and professionalism of referees across the North East Region as they enter the 2026/2027 football season.
