Sports
FIFA Suspends Referees Involved ln Chelsea Vs Leeds Premier League Encounter
FIFA has just announced VERY SAD NEWS for the Officials and Referees of the match between Leeds Vs Chelsea and this has cost them their Job after not awarding a penalty to them.
Football fans across the world are in absolute shock right now as FIFA has delivered one of the most dramatic officiating punishments of the season, and it all stems from the chaos-filled Leeds United vs Chelsea clash at Elland Road. The fallout from the refereeing decisions in that match has exploded into something far bigger than anyone expected, and the consequences are nothing short of career-shaking.
According to multiple reports circulating this evening, FIFA has officially suspended and relieved of duty the entire officiating crew from today’s match after a staggering VAR and on-field blunder that denied Chelsea what many believe was the most obvious penalty of the Premier League season. The decision has been labelled “embarrassing on the global stage” and “dangerously incompetent,” with FIFA allegedly stepping in after receiving hundreds of complaints within minutes of full-time.
The incident in question came late in the second half, when Chelsea were desperately pushing to get back into the game. A controversial moment saw a Leeds defender clatter into Chelsea’s attacker inside the box, leaving the entire away end screaming, players protesting, and pundits clutching their microphones. Yet, in the most stunning twist, both the referee and VAR waved play on like nothing happened.
Fans couldn’t believe it. Chelsea’s coaching staff were furious. Social media went into meltdown.
And now, it turns out FIFA was watching too.
Insiders say the governing body viewed the incident as “a catastrophic failure in refereeing standards.” The organisation wasted no time launching an emergency review that concluded the match officials demonstrated “a complete misunderstanding of protocol, positioning, and decision-making.” Sources claim the officials were informed of their suspension less than an hour after the final whistle, with one insider describing the atmosphere as “pure devastation” among the crew.
Reports also suggest FIFA has ordered an additional investigation into the VAR operation, warning that future incidents of this magnitude will lead to even harsher consequences. A senior FIFA figure was quoted saying: “If referees cannot uphold basic fairness in critical moments, they will not be allowed to represent the game.”
Chelsea fans are now calling for a replay. Leeds fans are insisting the decision had no impact on the result. Neutral fans are laughing, debating, arguing, and turning the incident into the day’s biggest football conversation. One thing is clear: this moment has shaken English refereeing right to its core.
This is the kind of officiating drama that becomes football folklore — and tonight, the match officials have paid the ultimate price for a mistake that the world believes was just too big to ignore.
The Premier League has seen controversies before, but this one has rewritten the script. And FIFA has made it clear: nobody is safe when fairness is thrown out the window.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles have made a significant leap in the latest FIFA/Coca-Cola Men’s World Ranking, climbing 12 places to 26th globally. This impressive ascent followed their strong performance at the recently concluded 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
The squad, led by Coach Eric Chelle, secured six wins and one defeat in their seven AFCON matches, accumulating 1581.55 points in January 2026, a notable increase from their 1502.46 points and 38th position in December 2025.
The Eagles are now the third-highest ranked African nation, sitting behind Morocco and Senegal, who maintain their first and second spots on the continent, respectively.
Despite a heartbreaking final defeat, hosts Morocco surged three places to 8th in the global standings, re-entering the top 10 for the first time since April 1998 and achieving their best-ever ranking. AFCON winners Senegal (12th, up by 7) have also been rewarded for their continental triumph, reaching unprecedented heights.
Algeria and Egypt complete Africa’s top five, rising six and four places, respectively, to 28th and 31st globally.
At the top of the world rankings, Spain holds onto first position, with FIFA World Champions Argentina (2nd) and France (3rd) continuing to set the pace.
Morocco’s rise has seen Croatia (11th, down 1), Belgium (9th, down 1), and Germany (10th, down 1) all drop out of the top 10.
Other notable movements included AFCON quarter-finalists Cameroon, who are now 45th in the world and 6th in Africa, having climbed 12 places. Further ranking successes from the African showpiece included rises for Algeria (28th, up 6), semi-finalists Egypt (31st, up 4), dethroned holders Côte d’Ivoire (37th, up 5), and Congo DR (48th, up 8).
Elsewhere, Kosovo (79th, up 1) has reached new territory, while Gabon (86th, down 8), Costa Rica (51st, down 2), and Uzbekistan (52nd, down 2) have all experienced drops.
The AFCON has also impacted the representation of confederations in the top 50, with CAF now boasting nine nations – two more than at the end of 2025. The AFC and Concacaf have each lost one, now with four apiece. UEFA continues to dominate with 26 teams in the top 50, while CONMEBOL has seven representatives, and OFC sides remained absent.
Former Super Eagles captain, John Obi Mikel, has blamed the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, for the team’s failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
The three-time African champions have now missed out on two consecutive World Cups for the first time since 1994.
Nigeria reached the playoffs but ultimately lost to DR Congo in the final last Sunday.
Mikel Obi, who featured at the 2014 and 2018 World Cups, has described the Eagles’ absence from next year’s tournament as a failure and a disappointment.
“It’s a failure, that’s what it is. It was just a disappointment,” he said on the Obi One Podcast.
He added: “We won against Gabon, but couldn’t defeat Congo. It’s all just negative, and that’s my frustration with the NFF. They’re not the right people to motivate these players.”
No law says I must operate from govt house, Otti replies predecessors
Days After Governor Yusuf’s Defection To APC, Federal Government Approves N1trn Rail Project For Kano
Lawyers, Others Storm Finance Ministry Over N4 Trillion Debt
INEC Releases Timetable For 2027 Elections
Abia leaders declare support for Otti’s second term, dismiss opposition.
2 men machete each other to death over plantain
-
Politics2 weeks agoINEC Releases Timetable For 2027 Elections
-
News2 weeks agoAbia leaders declare support for Otti’s second term, dismiss opposition.
-
News2 weeks ago2 men machete each other to death over plantain
-
News2 weeks agoPolice Inspector shoots colleague dead, injures another
-
News2 weeks agoOtti’s LP bloc seeks reconciliation as court sacks Abure
-
News5 days agoCoup: 16 indicted officers to face court-martial — DHQ
-
News2 weeks agoNAFDAC begins enforcement of ban on sachet alcohol
-
News1 day agoNo law says I must operate from govt house, Otti replies predecessors