No women referees for GPL second round

No Glo Premier League matches in the second round will be handled by female match officials. According to the secretary of the Referees Committee of the Ghana Football Association, Justice Yeboah, the situation is not a reflection on abilities of female officials, but rather the result of a requirement that means that female referees have to meet required speeds set for male referees before they can handle male football matches.

“Our female referees are doing very well and are very capable. We did not have official women football competitions and so our female colleagues were handling matches with us. FIFA regulations stipulate that for a female referee to handle male football matches, such female officials should meet the same qualifying speed times for male officials.”

Yeboah explained that some female officials had matched times set by their male counterparts, which allowed them to handle male football matches, adding that the latest appraisal and tests saw all the female officials falling short of the qualifying times.

“Over the last two years, some of our female officials were able to match such times and that is why they were handling some games. However, during our latest appraisals and tests, all the female officials failed to meet the set male qualifying times, and so no female official will handle matches in the Glo Premier League in the second round.”

Yeboah added that because of the inception of the National Women’s football league, female officials will not be left idle.

“The ongoing Women’s League will afford female officials the opportunity of handling football matches and so, contrary to public perception, they will not be left idle.”

Theresah Bremansu and Delight Alorbu acted as match referees in the GPL in the first round, whilst Emmanuella Aglago and Beatrice Thaud were assistant referees.