Two
football referees in fisticuffs
Two football referees in fisticuffs
Sunyani
(Brong Ahafo) 26 February 2002 - 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.
GRi…/
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Accra (Greater
Accra) 26 February 2002 - Obuasi Adansiman Sporting club has lodged a protest
against the Ghana Football Association (GFA) with the Federation of International
Football Associations (FIFA) and the Africa Football Confederation (CAF) seeking
redress on a disciplinary case involving Berekum Arsenals.
A report
by the Times Sports said a letter of petition dated 5 February and signed
by Mr K. Barimah Acheampong, Secretary of the club urged the two august soccer
bodies to intervene in the matter to forestall a possible disruption of the
GFA’s programme. Adansiman’s grounds of petition was that Arsenals fielded
an unqualified player in the person of George Brown during a premier league
match last season; and they duly protested.
The GFA
Explained that there was a problem on the same player (George Brown) brought
up by another club but due to some technicalities, the FA needed a reversal
of an earlier decision to be able to declare the player unqualified. Subsequently,
the decision was reversed proving that George Brown was disqualified implying
that Adansiman should be beneficiaries of the decision and awarded the points
at stake.
However,
Adansiman claimed that they have been denied the legitimate points after several
appeals, through the appropriate quarters of the FA and described the situation
as “dishonesty to justice.” “This is an absurd situation and the decision
of the committee outrageous and we are therefore, sending this petition because
of the awareness that FIFA and CAF do not approve of clubs sending their local
association under them to court;” the complaint added.
Adansiman’s
petition also urged the highest football authorities in Africa and the world
to appropriately intervene since they would be left with no option but to
advice themselves in the interest of fairness and justice. “We think this
is where sympathizers of clubs are by circumstances beyond their control forced
to bring justice to bear on the football authorities by instituting legal
actions against them.”
The Obuasi
Club, which has since been relegated to the Division One League (DOL), noted
that even though a petition has been sent to the GFA executive council, no
attention has been given to the plea.
Meanwhile,
the Executive Council of the GFA have denied having received a petition from
Adansiman Football Club. Alhaji Y.A. Ibrahim, Chairman of the Executive Council
observed that, Adansiman’s petition might have been discussed during their
meeting last week should they have been given a copy of it.
It would
be recalled that the matter of the player (George Brown) had earlier come
before the Disciplinary Committee in the case of Asante Kotoko versus Berekum
Arsenals. The Committee in its ruling stated that it had no jurisdiction to
overrule the Player Status Committee’s decision declaring George Brown a floating
player.
Consequently,
the Committee held that George Brown was not an unqualified player in which
Adansiman’s protest was dismissed on similar grounds and filed an appeal on
29 October 2001. Kotoko however, appealed against the decision of the Disciplinary
Committee and the Appeals Committee held that George Brown was on unqualified
player and the Porcupine Warriors were awarded three points and three goals
in accordance with the rules. It is based on these developments that Adansiman
is calling for a second look at the decision taken against them.
However,
when the GFA was contacted, the General Secretary, Mr Kofi Nsiah disclosed
that in as much as they are aware of the action, Adansiman adopted the wrong
procedure of lodging a protest with the two bodies. He explained that Adansiman
should have sent the letter through the GFA onward and that the GFA would
inform Adansiman of the proper procedures for lodging such protests.
GRi…/
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Cape Coast (Central Region) 26 February 2002 - Adisadel College, Cape Coast, bagged 182 points to lift the central region zone one inter schools and colleges championship trophy in an athletic competition held at the Adisadel college sports grounds over the weekend.
Cape Coast Technical Institute came second with 152 points, Aggrey Memorial Zion Secondary School were third with 107 points whilst Christ the King Academy came fourth with 36 points. Edinaman Secondary took the fifth position with 34 points, Komenda Secondary Technical was sixth with 31 points followed by Aburaman secondary school with 22 points.
In the girls division, Mfantseman Secondary School lifted the trophy with 153 points, Christ the King Academy came second with 105 points, Aggrey Memorial Zion was third with 100 points whiles Edinaman came fourth with 70 points. Aburaman secondary came fifth with 32 points, Cape Coast Technical Institute was sixth with 28 points while Komenda Secondary Technical came last with six points. Prizes and certificates were presented to outstanding athletes.
GRi…/
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