Referees asked to be fair

Oblogo (GAR), Feb. 26, GNA - Nii Kwaku Bibini the third, the chief of Oblogo in the Ga District of the Greater Accra Region and chairman of River Boys, a second division club has said the performance of certain referees demoralize young soccer talents and kill their enthusiasm to further pursue football to greater heights.

He made mention of such dubious punitive measures as penalties, red cards and offside goals as too common of late in the division two league matches of the Greater Accra Region.

Nii Bibini was speaking to the GNA Sports on Wednesday on the general performance of the teams and officiating of matches of the second division.

He said there was the need for referees to fair and firm and officiate according to the rules of the game but that they should be guided against being influenced to take decisions that would have a negative effect on not only the game but those connected with it. Nii Bibini made particular reference to bad officiating by the referees when his team played against Basement F/C last week at Oblogo on Saturday.

He said it was a shame that that referees from neighbouring countries are brought down to handle local matches when we have competent FIFA referees in the country who can compete favourably with their counterparts when given the chance.

The Chairman said it is obvious, however, that the performance of the local referees over the years has raised a lot of doubt of the neutrality in the eyes of the sporting public that they have lost faith in them to be fair.

He said "if the match officials would properly interpret the rules of the game and desist from allowing dubious goals and rule of-side, good goals on flimsy excuses then Ghana soccer would go places".

Nii Bibini advised match officials to encourage players and supporters' to respect their actions by officiating above reproach when they handle matches while urging the Regional Football Association to at least send some observers to monitor the division two matches so as to minimize bad officiating and crowd violence at the league centers.