Anthony Yeboah dared to expose corrupt referees

The vice chairman of the Referees Association of Ghana Joe Debrah has debunked accusations that the men at the centre of the pitch are corrupt.

Former Ghana international Anthony Yeboah alleged that he quit running a football club - Yegola FC – because the Knights of the Whistle are fraudulent.

The 48-year-old former Black Stars striker was the owner and bankroller of a second-tier side in Kumasi, but threw in the towel due to the alleged incessant demand for bribe by referees.

“I am very shocked with Tony's false allegations because this is the second time I've heard him spreading lies about referees in Ghana,” Debrah told Kumasi-based Otec FM. 

“When his team was in the third-tier, he made such allegations after failing to qualify to the second-tier during the middle league playoffs but seasons later he qualified and I wanted to ask him if this time too referees took bribe before his team gained promotion.”

He added: “Who are those referees he has been talking about that come to him to lobby for a fair officiating? I will dare him to mention the names of these people or he should just shut up.

“I believe he's just not interested in investing his money in football anymore and nobody can force him to continue but to soil referees' names is very disgusting. If he wants the best for our football, he should not just keep those names to himself but rather publicly tell the world or the appropriate offices to deal with the culprits.”