The referee for Kotoku Royals vs Accra Lions, Others handed suspensions

The Match Review Panel has suspended some Referees, Assistants and a Match Commissioner after reviewing some Division One League matches.

Emmanuel Odoom who was Referee for the Division One league match between Kotoku Royals and Accra Lions has been suspended as well as Siraj Yahya and Asamoah Eric Osafo.

Ashai Seth Armah, Asante Bismark and Amoo Joseph William who were Assistant Referees and Match Commissioner for the Day 14 match between Skyy FC and Sekondi Hasaacas have all been handed suspensions.

Below are the decisions:

1. COMPLAINT BY ACCRA LIONS FC (KOTOKU ROYALS’ FC VS. ACCRA LIONS’ FC)

SUMMARY OF COMPLAINT

According to Accra Lions, Referee Emmanuel Odoom awarded a bad penalty to Kotoku Royals in the 2nd half of the game.

They added that a shot at goal by a player of Kotoku Royals was blocked by an Accra Lions player with the chest. Accra Lions FC claimed that the incident was too glaring for the referee who was about 10 meters from the action to have missed. They also said that the hand of the Accra Lions player was in a natural position and thus the decision by Referee Emmanuel Odoom was unconvincing and doubtful.

Lastly they stated that in the 70minute, the referee awarded a dubious penalty which also led to a yellow card shown out captain Richmond Tetteh Ankrah (No. 4).

The Match Review Panel observed that there was no hand ball incident in  the 69^th minute. It was found that the ball rather hit the chest of the player as such there was no foul committed, therefore the penalty was wrongfully awarded. This changed the outcome of the match.

The Club also complained about the issuing of the yellow card which is not within the jurisdiction of the match Review Panel.

DECISION(S)

The referee, Emmanuel Odoom is therefore suspended for the rest of this season’s football activities.

2. COMPLAINT BY SEKONDI HASAACAS FC (SKYY FC VRS. SEKONDI HASAACAS)

           SUMMARY OF COMPLAINT

Sekondi Hasaacas made the following claims:

1. In the 28th minute there was a goal scoring opportunity but was flagged offside by Assistant Referee Divine Gbolomor.
2. In the 30th minute of the 1st half, a tackle on player Daniel Egyin attracted no card to the offender. Referee Eric Osafo Asamoah whistled for foul and issued no card.
3. Referee Eric Osafo Asamoah awarded two penalties to Skyy FC in the 54th and 67th minute after a tackle by Fuseini Issaka (No. 26)
4. There was a clear incident of penalty in the 89th minute when player Obed Asamoah Ackah, (No. 7) was pulled down inside the box but the referee waved play-on.

a.Per the video watched, the match officials decisions were correct.

1. The referee rightfully whistled for a reckless challenge in the 30^th minute as complaint which should have attracted a yellow card.
2. The 54^th minute penalty, the referee’s decision correct because the ball hit the hand of the defender.
3. In the 89^th minute, there was no foul per the video watched.

Per the complaint, referee Eric Osafo showed yellow cards to Hasaacas player number 10 twice which did not go with expulsion.

In the 67^th minute incident, there was a contact between the attacker and defender, as such the referee’s decision is deemed to be right.

In all the complaint the referee’s decision were good, except the yellow card which was not shown to the player in question. However he also failed to expel player number 10 of Hasaacas who had two cautions in the game.

DECISION(S)

The referee, Eric Osafo Asamoah should be cautioned, and advised to be always vigilant in his matches and keep proper records.

All referees are hereby advised to be observant in all their matches.

Commendation

The Committee is also impressed about the sincerity expressed by Hasaacas about their own player receiving two cautions without an expulsion. The Committee commend Hasaacas for their good example shown and encourage other clubs to emulate their example.

Other observations

It was also observed that some of the players of Hasaacas were wearing shirt which numbering was different from the number on the shots. This caused the referee to show the same player the two (2) yellow cards without the expulsion.

The match officials namely:

Asamoah Eric Osafo (Referee), Gbolomor Divine (Assistant 1), Ashai Seth Armah (Assistant 2), Asante Bismark (Fourth Referee) and Amoo Joseph William (Match Commissioner) failed to observe the inspection protocols  of the players shirts (Jersey) and shots which is the core purpose of inspection. They equally failed to include it in their various reports even though their attention was drawn to the miss-up.

Decision

The Panel recommends that all the match officials including the Match Commissioner be suspended for four (4) matches.

3. COMPLAINT BY NKORANZA WARRIORS SC

SUMMARY OF COMPLAINT

According to Nkoranza Warriors, Referee Siraj Yahya and his Assistant Line 2, Mohammed Alhassan, disallowed a goal scored by player Gaps Godey number 31 of Nkoranza Warriors in the 7^th minute of the 1^st half.

Per the video watched, the Match Review Panel found that there was no offside and so the referee’s decision was wrong. The disallowed goal should have been accepted as a goal. The Assistant Referee 2 erred in his offside judgement.

DECISION(S)

The referee, Siraj Yahya, is therefore suspended for eight (8) matches effective notification date.

Assistant Referee 2, Mohammed Alhassan is suspended for the rest of the seasons football activities.

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