Enough Is Enough! — Tony Elumelu Urges FIFA to Fix World Cup Refereeing After Africa’s Exit

Nigerian billionaire and philanthropist Tony Elumelu has publicly criticised FIFA’s officiating standards following the conclusion of Africa’s 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign.

The chairman of Heirs Holdings shared his views on X just a day after reigning Africa Cup of Nations champions Morocco were eliminated by France in the quarter-finals, bringing an end to the continent’s representation at the tournament.

While congratulating every African nation that participated at this summer's World Cup, Elumelu argued that refereeing standards remain one of the biggest issues facing international football.

In his post, Elumelu first applauded Africa’s performances throughout the competition.

“Well done to all the African countries that represented our continent at the World Cup. You made Africa proud and showed the world what African football is capable of.”

The 63-year-old UBA chairman then turned his attention to FIFA’s match officials.

“But FIFA World Cup needs to improve the standard of refereeing because if poor officiating continues, it will damage the game.”

Elumelu concluded by once again congratulating Africa’s representatives for their efforts.

The comments arrive after weeks of intense debate surrounding refereeing decisions at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Several African teams found themselves involved in controversial VAR reviews, disputed penalties and heavily scrutinised officiating calls throughout the tournament, prompting widespread discussion among supporters and pundits.

Morocco’s elimination to France only intensified those conversations, with many supporters once again questioning refereeing consistency on football’s biggest stage.

Although Elumelu did not reference any specific incident, his remarks echoed concerns that have repeatedly surfaced across social media during the competition.

His intervention has since attracted significant attention online, with many supporters agreeing that FIFA must improve officiating standards before future tournaments, while others argued that refereeing controversies are an unavoidable part of modern football.

As the World Cup heads into its final stages, the debate over refereeing standards shows little sign of disappearing.