Accra, Aug 18, GNA 96 Accra Hearts of Oak has asked the Professional League Board (PLB) to enforce security at the Golden City Park when they play Berekum Arsenals in a Premiership opener on Sunday, August 20.

The request follows comments allegedly made by Alhaji Yakubu Imoro, Chairman of the Berekum based club on Hello, Kumasi, an FM Station, regarding the match.

Alhaji Imoro is reported to have rejected the appointment of Kumasi based referee Reginald Larthbridge on tribal grounds, saying 93he is a Ga, who has been sent to rob us, adding that if the referee was not changed nobody should blamed them for any violence that might occur at the match.

The Phobians, described the call as a deliberate attempt by the host to intimidate the officials for the game.

Thomas Okine, Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the club said in a statement that 93we understand the chairman of Arsenals is seriously objecting to the appointed referee on very dangerous and unsporting reason of tribe.

He expressed dismay about the allegations attributed to the Arsenals capo because 93they send bad signals to other corporate sponsors aside Ghana Telecom.

Okine said 93I was surprised about his utterances at this age of our football development.

The Referees Appointment Committee (RAC) of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) had already indicated their determination to stick by all appointments, even if clubs protest against them.

Alex Quartey, a retired FIFA referee of repute and a prominent member of the Referees Appointments Committee had warned clubs to desist from protesting against the appointment of referees by citing frivolous reasons such as tribe affiliations or differences and places of residence. 18 Aug. 06