RAC will be tough on clubs - Alex Quartey

Accra, July 27, GNA -- As the new season beckons, the Referees Appointment Committee (RAC) of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has said the era where clubs opposed the appointment of referees for matches and called for changes would be a thing of the past.

=93The Committee is determined to stick by all appointments for matches in the coming year and clubs, which refuse the appointment of certain referees for their matches do so at their own risk.=94 In previous seasons, clubs had opposed the appointment of referees for their matches, citing various reasons ranging from tribalism to regionalism.

Mr Alex Quartey, one of the accomplished referees in Ghana and the vice chairman of RAC, told the GNA Sports that, henceforth clubs which opposed the decision of the committee have to find their own way out because they will not countenance such moves from them. He said the committee would be very firm with all appointments this season, since the attitude of the clubs was becoming alarming. According to the retired FIFA referee, clubs only complain about the appointment of referees when they play at home and encounter difficulties in manipulating officials, but are happy anytime the same referees are appointed for their away matches.

"When they are playing outside their homes, they always applaud our appointments because they are assured of fair officiating, but when such firm referees are appointed for their home matches, they complain because they cannot influence them."

Mr Fred Pappoe Vice President of the GFA collaborated the views of the RAC member, arguing that the nation was experiencing some level of progress in the game and such acts from clubs must seize.

He said the FA fully backed the decision of the committee because it is part of their efforts to improve football in the country. The premiership has for the past years been bedevilled with consistent rejection of referees by the clubs.

The nation's most glamorous clubs Accra Hearts of Oak and Kumasi Asante Kotoko have been the leading culprits in this act, with the most recent one being the rejection of referee Justus Agbeko by Kotoko, for the final match of last season's Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA) Top Four early this year.

Kotoko argued that the said referee was an Accra based referee, hence he did not qualify to officiate a game against an Accra based team and the Committee after persistent pressure finally changed the referee. However, retired referee Quartey noted that the referee was dully qualified to handle the match irrespective of his residential region because a FIFA referee was capable of officiating in any match even against his own country.

He explained that, referees without FIFA badges were those who would be selected for matches with regional consideration. Kumasi King Faisal in a similar move rejected the appointment of referee William Agbovi for a league against Kpando Heart of Lions citing tribal affiliations.