Referees to boycott Premier League

There is a strong indication that the third week matches of the Kinapharma Premier League scheduled for this weekend would not hold as the Referees Association of Ghana (RAG) has ordered its members to boycott the competition.

A letter from the national secretariat of RAG dated, May 23 and copied to all Regional Secretaries of the association, communicating the boycott order cited the inability of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to meet demands made by the referees.

"We regret to inform you that in spite of our efforts to assist the GFA in the smooth running of the 2003 Kinapharma League, the GFA has not, at the time of writing this letter acceded to our requests and proposals," it read. The letter requested for 'strict compliance' by referees on the matter.

The major complain of the referees has been their dissatisfaction of the allowances paid them by the GFA as was reported by the GNA Sports three weeks ago.

In the GNA story, Alex Quartey, a FIFA badge referee, complained about their allowances of 115 thousand cedis per match and 15 thousand cedis feeding allowance per day and the inability of the GFA to provide them with any kits for more than 20 years.

The aftermath of the GNA story was a meeting between the RAG and the Professional League Board (PLB) of the GFA at which the referees demanded an upward adjustment of their allowances including feeding money when on assignment.

RAG wanted 350 thousand cedis for FIFA referees, 300 thousand cedis for non-FIFA grades and 180 thousand for fourth referees.

On the other hand the GFA is insisting on 250 thousand cedis for FIFA referees, 200 thousand cedis for non-FIFA grades and 150 thousand cedis for fourth referees.

Consequently, the RAG wrote to the GFA on May 21, a day after their meeting, describing their requests as 'modest' and wondered why the GFA could not meet them, more so when the FA does not assist in their training, neither does it provide them with kits.

The letter, which was signed by Mr Godsway Glah, general secretary of RAG said the leadership of RAG absorbed the pressure from its rank and file and compelled them to participate in the first two weeks of the league in the interest of the nation.

It regretted that the GFA did not deem it fit to meet with the referees before the commencement of the league as has been the practice adding that the referees did not even know how they would benefit from the 1.5 billion cedis Kinapharma sponsorship.