Referee Awarded A Dubious Penalty To Hearts – Karela Coach Johnson Smith Slams Referee

Karela United Head Coach Johnson Smith

Head Coach for Karela United, Johnson Smith has accused referee Qadir Abdul Latif of awarding a dubious penalty to Hearts of Oak during their match week 12 fixture on Wednesday, May 15, 2019, to help them beat his side.

The Phobians calmed the Anyinase based side at the Accra Sports Stadium when they faced off for the second time in the ongoing GFA Normalization Committee (NC) Special Competition yesterday by posturing a 1-0 victory on them.

It took a second-half penalty converted by defender Christopher Bonney to separate the two sides who played 90 minutes of high-intensity football.

Speaking to GTV after his side’s defeat, Coach Johnson Smith indicated that Karela United was the better team on the day and it was because of the frustrations from the referee that caused them to lose the match.

“I think the frustrating came from the referee. Early minute he started frustrating us and that's why. But apart from that, I think we played more than the Hearts team but I don't know why the dubious penalty was given to them”, the gaffer.

He further shared that they are turning their attention to their weekend fixture against Dawu based side Dreams FC.

“We are preparing match after match so we will go home and do our corrections and play on Sunday”, he said.

The result from that match will have a telling effect on which other team will be joining Hearts from Premier B to progress to the next phase of the NC Special Competition.