Sports News of Monday, 11 April 2011

Source: GNA

Referees run helter-skelter for dear lives

Cape Coast, April 11, GNA- The referees who handled the Division One League match between Cape Coast Venomous Vipers and Tarkwa United at the Robert Mensah stadium, Cape Coast on Saturday had to run helter-skelter for the dear lives when irate supporters of Vipers chased them after the match in an attempt to vent their spleen on them for alleged biased officiating.

Centre referee Christian Owusu Banahene from Koforidua and on of his assistants, Obo Tei from Suhum, who had earlier been given severe beatings by the supporters were later escorted by the few policemen on duty to the offices of the Sports Council before a police reinforcement came to rescue them to safety.

The incident all started in the 82nd minute when supporters of Vipers apparently dissatisfied with the match officials' performance hurled stones and other missiles, hitting the third referee, James Tamakloe's upper left eye that opened a deep cut gushing with blood. This held up proceedings for about 30 minutes for the assistant referee to receive treatment by the officials of the Ghana Red Cross at the stadium.

When the match eventually resumed, both teams struggled hard to carry the day, but try as they did none of them could find the net, ending the match goalless.