The Ghana Football Association (GFA) revised its regulations regarding the attendance of clubs and referees at pre-match conferences, with the new regulations taking effect from this weekend, match day 21 fixtures of the ongoing league season.
Prior to the start of the 2021/22 Ghana Premier League season, the FA regulations required that all four referees for a football match, comprising the centre referee, his two assistants as well as the fourth official, will all join the Match Commissioner and representatives of the clubs involved in a match, for the pre-match meeting. The pre-match meeting is where the officials together with the club representatives and the Match Commissioner, discuss issues of jersey colours, rules, kick off time, squad numbers among others.
However, the GFA modified the regulations prior to the start of the 2021/2022 league season to allow only the fourth referee to join the Match Commissioner and the clubs representatives for the pre-match meeting. The move was probably to minimise contact between referees and clubs involved in a football match, to enhance integrity issues and do away with possibilities of bribery and corruption.
The GFA has now rescinded that regulation, which the clubs and referees have followed since the commencement of this season’s league, which has seen 20 match weeks gone already. Ghanasportspage.com can exclusively report, that, the GFA has now directed, that effective this weekend, Friday, 18 March 2022, all appointed match officials (referees) are to be present at all pre-match or Match Committee Meetings.
This is now obligatory, and any referee who has been appointed to officiate a match, who refuses or fails to attend the pre-match meeting would face sanctions.
