Kumasi, June 8, GNA - A three-day training course to deepen the understanding of new developments and laws of the game for football referees in the Ashanti Region has ended at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi. The course was held under the auspices of the Referees Appointments Committee of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and the Referees Association of Ghana (RAG).

The participants were updated on the world's football governing body (FIFA) laws, aspects of off-sides, fouls, misconduct and penalties. Mr Justice Yeboah, a FIFA/CAF Instructor said the training was appropriate because of the frequent changes in the laws of the game and therefore urged referees to keep pace with new developments to be better placed to interpret them accordingly. He told them that per the new rules under Law 14, goalkeepers are now allowed to move on the goal line to either the left or right before penalty kicks are taken.

He said penalty shooters can also briefly pause or break on their way to take a kick which was allowed by the law. The Instructor said Law 11 also gives assistant referees more autonomy in deciding when a player is in an off-side position instead of only by the central referee.

He said Law 12 mandates referees and their assistants to dismiss outright a player from the field of play on tackles perceived to be dangerous so as to protect and ensure the safety of players. The FIFA/CAF Instructor said these changes were aimed at safeguarding the careers of promising footballers to benefit the progress of the game. Retired FIFA referee R. K. Attifu, said the course would be replicated in the other Regions to promote football development. Mr Attifu said he was hopeful that the media would help to sensitize the public on the new rules to avoid controversy and incidents among football fans.