Referee Committee’s statement on the acts of violence against match officials

The Referee’s Committee condemns the recent spate of violence against match officials in our leagues. We particularly condemn the primitive and brutal assault on Referee Patrick Kyeremanteng and his assistants, George Saija and Augustine Akugre, by some home fans at the Robert Mensah stadium in Cape Coast on Sunday March 11, 2012.

The refusal of club officials to distance themselves from the violent conduct of their home fans deserves strong condemnation. It shows how deeply the primitive and brutal behaviour is eating into our game.

The Referee’s Committee is of the view that the behaviour of home fans at Robert Mensah last Sunday and the negative stand of their Club officials is not an isolated incident.

Similar intimidatory utterances have been made by Coach J.E. Sarpong of Liberty Professionals FC and some fans of Hearts of Oak FC. Coach Sarpong’s comments were directed at match officials generally whilst those of Hearts’ fans were directed at the Chairman of the Referee’s Committee. This behaviour is part of a general trend towards violence and intimidation which does not bode well for the success of the Glo Premier league.

The league has, admittedly, reached a point where clubs are desperate for every point and would be quick to lay blame elsewhere when the desired points do not come their way. It is to address situations like this that the FA has structures and processes in place, including the newly created Match Review Panel, to ensure that match officials perform safely, professionally and fairly.

As we head into the next round of league matches, we appeal to all to avoid violence and intimidation and allow these processes and structures to work. We call on the PLB to review its arrangements for security at match venues and enhance them where necessary to guarantee adequate and effective security.

We call on the FA to endeavour to speedily find and punish those who infringe the regulations of the FA on violent and unsportsmanlike conduct. We finally call on all those who love football and are committed to the progress of Ghana football to speak out against those championing violence and intimidation and put them to shame even if they are your fans or club officials.