The President, Nigeria Wrestling Federation, Daniel Igali has warn referees officiating not to witch-hunt or gang up any athlete.
Igali sounded the warning during a seminar organised for Referees, Coaches and wrestlers on the new wrestling rules ahead of the Governor Nyesom Wike Wresting Challenge Cup which kicks off on Today in Port Harcourt.
Igali, who admitted that there might still be mistakes in the application of the new rules, warned the referees against witch-hunting any athlete.
“For the next five days, I know we will make mistakes. If a referee does something intentionally against an athlete, that referee will leave that mat immediately.
“If we make mistakes that is okay, but If there is gang up to favour an athlete against another athlete and I find out I will not take it lightly. If I am not there, I will see it in video replay.
“We are putting you through this new rules to ensure that the referees, coaches and wrestlers are on the same page.
“I will make sure that throughout my tenure such person does not officiate because we must take these things seriously. So I want to make it very clear and it is not a threat,” he warned.
President of the NWF, Daniel Igali and Chairman Nigeria Wrestling Referees Association, Usman Yusuf, tutored those in attendance at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Alfred Diette-Spiff Civic Center on the new rules endorsed by United World Wrestling (UWW), the international governing body for the sport of amateur wrestling.
Meanwhile, weigh in for the Cadet event consisting of female wrestling, Greco-Roman and freestyle kick off by 10am.
The states are Jigawa, Kano, Cross Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Pleateu, Eboyin, Delta, Edo, Niger,Bayelsa, Rivers, Kogi, Osun, Ondo State,Anambra, Enugu, Lagos, Bauchi,Ogun,Sokoto,Kastina and Kebbi.
Also participating are Nigeria Army, Mountain of Fire Ministries wresting club and the Federal Capital Territory.
