Officiating Scandal Rocks Ghana Football

Referee J.K. Essel has confessed before the FA’s Disciplinary Committee that he was persuaded by his Match Commissioner- Mr Mike Afidze to change the match records of the Obuasi Goldfields/Hearts of Oak game, which the referee showed Charles Taylor a yellow card that was switched for Jacob Nettey.

According to the referee and his assistants, the match commissioner was influenced by Hearts of Oak officials who asked them to change the records in favour of Hearts of Oak, to field Charles Taylor in subsequent league games.

The match commissioner, Mike Afidze has denied the allegations levelled against him by the other officials.

The two assistants to the Referee, A.S. Malik and Mumuni told the committee that they were requested to effect changes to the records but it was objected too.

Mike Afidze was also accused of calling for a common view before the meeting yesterday.

The hearing, which commenced at 17:30 GMT yesterday, ended at 20:30 GMT with the Committee calling for more time to come out with a decision due to the fresh evidence made available to it.

The Disciplinary Committee is hearing the protest brought against Accra Hearts of Oak by Kumasi Asante Kotoko, for fielding an unqualified player when the two sides met in Kumasi some weeks ago.

According to Kotoko, the player, Charles Taylor, received his third yellow card in a league game against Obuasi Goldfields, hence rendering him ineligible to play against Kotoko.

The match officials did not put in an appearance at the initial hearing last week, resulting in the postponement of the ruling.