Accra, March 18, GNA - The National Sports Council (NSC) has called on the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and the Referees Association of Ghana and other stakeholders to ensure that referees appointed for matches are competent and have proven track records. A statement issued and signed by Mr Charles James Aryeh, Chief Administrative Officer of the NSC copied to the GNA Sports said this will help curb crowd violence and prevent damage to the facilities at the national stadiums.

The Council, he said has taken the current spectatoring rowdyism at the league centers with serious concern.

It is recalled that irate supporters who were bent on venting their anger on the match officials at the Ohene Djan stadium in Accra and the Sekondi stadium were stopped by re-enforced police personnel who had to fire warning shots at some point to disperse the charged crowd. According to the statement, the recent purported incompetent handling of two Premier League matches by the referees at the Ohene Djan Stadium and Sekondi Stadiums last Sunday, led to rowdyism and could have resulted in damage to stadium properties.

Mr Aryeh said the Council has legal mandate that empowers it to provide sports facilities for use by sports men and women that also enjoins it to ensure the effective and efficient management of those facilities.

"The Council would expect that our appeal will be taken seriously by all, since any future occurrence of such spectator rowdisym will be met with the full rigours of the law with the possible repercussions extending to the Clubs involved as well as match organizers". The statement added.

Mr Aryeh advised that league Clubs and her supporters should also exercise the utmost restraint in their re-action to perceived unfair dealings against their clubs by match officials. 18 March 08