Two football referees in fisticuffs

Two Sunyani-based class one referees last Sunday stunned soccer fans, that thronged the Coronation Park to witness the Ghana ‘Top 4’ encounter between Tano Bofoakwa and visiting Liberty Professionals, with a rare display of their pugilist prowess.

Referees Thomas Amo and Edward Nkrumah showed their fighting power when they suddenly engaged in fierce blows following a misunderstanding between them. It was the timely intervention of officials from the Sports Council in Sunyani, which averted any ‘blood bath’ as the two traded power-laden punches.

According to an eyewitness, the fracas began during the pre-match conference. The referee-turned-‘boxers’ were said to have been among five referees to be nominated to handle the match when it was thought that the officials from Kumasi would not be available. The two boxers were not nominated and as such, some misunderstanding ensued between them.

While the others were preparing for the match, the Kumasi officials arrived. As fate would have it, Amo was said to have equipped “now it is finished. None of us will officiate the match.” Nkrumah, offended, reacted angrily, and what was to be just exchange of words saw them in a first cuff. The incident was the first to be recorded this year at the stadium.

The Coronation park, last year recorded a number of nasty incidents. In one instance, a Kumasi Asante Kotoko ball boy sprang from the bench and hit a referee’s forehead with the stud of a football boot. The match, between Kotoko and Tano Bofoakwa ended abruptly, when scores 0-0. This was followed by an Okwahu United goalkeeper also attacking a referee in a league match against Bofoakwa. There was also an exhibit of punching power between two executives of Tano Bofoakwa at the same venue on a later date to the thrill of soccer fans.