Sports News of Saturday, 7 July 2018

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

Anas Exposé: CAF suspends 10 Ghanaian referees

Referee Reginald Lathbridge is one of 10 Ghanaian referees suspended by CAF Referee Reginald Lathbridge is one of 10 Ghanaian referees suspended by CAF

The Confederation of African Football (Caf) has provisionally suspended ten (10) Ghanaian referees after they were filmed breaching the ethics of their profession by journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas and his Tiger Eye Pi team.

The continental football governing body in a press release copied to Ghanaweb.com said the 10 officials are expected to appear before a Disciplinary Board on August 5, 2018.

The decision was made on Saturday by the CAF Disciplinary board. “The following decisions were taken by the CAF Disciplinary board regarding the referees involved,” read the statement.

The Ghanaian officials were filmed in a BBC investigative piece by Ghanaian journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas receiving monies to influence football games on June 6 this year.

Already, the Referees Association of Ghana (RAG) has suspended all the 15 referees caught on tape taking bribes in the Number 12 documentary by the undercover journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas.

A statement issued and signed by the General Secretary of the association, Mr Joseph Ayita Mensah said: “All referees and assistant referees who appeared in the Anas exposé should not be appointed for any football match“.

It added that RAG is making efforts to secure a copy of the video from the Tiger Eye PI for study and also to enable them to take all the necessary actions against the named referees.

The association has also urged its member not to deal directly with any Football Club or Team official with regard to officiating any football match.

The ramifications of the Anas exposé have been dire, with Kwesi Nyantakyi, who was a Vice President at CAF and also a FIFA Executive Council Member as well as Ghana FA boss, forced to resign after he was also caught on tape negotiating how to swindle his association in a sponsorship deal.

Below are the Ghanaian referees who have been suspended by CAF.

1.Mr. Lathbridge Reginald, Referee (Ghana) 2. Mr. Bello Aboudou, Referee (Ghana) 3. Mr. Nantierre Eric, Assistant Referee (Ghana) 4. Mr. Fleischer Cecil, Referee (Ghana) 5. Mr. Anafo Nathan, Referee (Ghana) 6. Mr. Ouedraogo Dawood, Referee (Ghana) 7. Mr. Salifu Malik, Assistant Referee (Ghana) 8. Mrs. Akongyam Theresa, Women Assistant Referee (Ghana) 9. Mr. Badiu Brahim, Assistant Referee (Ghana) 10.Mr. David Laryea, Assistant Referee (Ghana)