Nigerian referees given permission to take bribes

[All_Heart]

From ESPN http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/st...=ESPNHeadlines

LAGOS, Nigeria -- Football referees in Nigeria can take bribes from clubs but should not allow them to influence their decisions on the pitch, a football official said on Friday.

Fanny Amun, acting Secretary-General of the Nigerian Football Association, said bribery was common in the Nigerian game.

"We know match officials are offered money or anything to influence matches and they can accept it," Amun told Reuters on Friday.

Amun first made the statement earlier in the week to a football seminar in the capital Abuja, prompting protests from other officials.

"Referees should only pretend to fall for the bait, but make sure the result doesn't favour those offering the bribe," Amun said.

At the seminar, Nigerian football league chairman Oyuiki Obaseki reprimanded referees for poor quality match reports, saying that bribery was to blame.

"The quality of your reports have not done our league any good, so please desist from corrupt practices," he told delegates.

Despite a high-profile campaign to stamp out graft in the impoverished African country, Nigeria consistently ranks among the most corrupt countries in the world -- and football is no exception.

[PGCougar]

Originally Posted by All_Heart

"We know match officials are offered money or anything to influence matches and they can accept it," Amun told Reuters on Friday.

Amun first made the statement earlier in the week to a football seminar in the capital Abuja, prompting protests from other officials.

"Referees should only pretend to fall for the bait, but make sure the result doesn't favour those offering the bribe," Amun said.

Dang it, where's the integrity? I mean, if I'm gonna bribe someone, I expect them to follow through and throw the game.

[26 Year Gap]

Originally Posted by PGCougar

Dang it, where's the integrity? I mean, if I'm gonna bribe someone, I expect them to follow through and throw the game.

Just supoose the other team bribes the official as well. What happens then?

[All_Heart]

Originally Posted by 26 Year Gap

Just supoose the other team bribes the official as well. What happens then?

It's whoever pays more

[Adam]

Originally Posted by 26 Year Gap

Just supoose the other team bribes the official as well. What happens then?

Bidding war, just like California real estate.

[Mark Padgett]

I can't wait to get an email from diplomat in Nigeria asking me to put money in my bank account so he can then use it for bribing a referee.

[26 Year Gap]

Originally Posted by Mark Padgett

I can't wait to get another email from diplomat in Nigeria asking me to put money in my bank account so he can then use it for bribing a referee.

*(&(&#&&##))@
[fixed].... [can someone fix the message too short thingy?]

[ChuckElias]

Ok, mods. How about we shut this one down now? Racism and personal insults. . . Seems like a good formula for a lock-down.

[26 Year Gap]

Nice editing job. Thanks.

[ChuckElias]

Just for the record, Kiwi, I did not mean that any of the posts actually was racist. Only that the conversation had devolved into accusations of it. Thanks for clearing out some of the stuff!

[Dribble]

Thank you for editing!