Jeffrey Buter, head coach of Sporting Lagos, has been summoned to appear before the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) at its headquarters in Abuja this week after making critical remarks about the standard of refereeing in the competition.

The controversy follows a 1-1 draw between Sporting Lagos and Barau FC at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Onikan, Lagos. After the match, Buter publicly questioned the performance of referee Abubakar Abdullahi, who hails from Niger State.

The league authorities took immediate exception to the coach's public statements, and have since issued a broader warning to all coaches and club officials about making comments that could damage the credibility of match officials.

The NPFL made clear that any concerns about officiating must be raised through the league's official administrative channels — not through the media or public forums. The body cited the need to protect the image, integrity, and sponsorship interests of the league as the basis for its stance.

Buter's summoning marks one of the more high-profile disciplinary interventions of the current NPFL season, underlining the league's intent to enforce conduct standards both on and off the pitch.