Sports
FA reacts to season cancellation reports
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has fiercely reacted to a publication on Ghana football website, Ghanasoccernet.com with the headline ‘Ghana FA ExCo unanimously vote to cancel season’.
The story informed all stakeholders of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and the public that the Executive Council took a decision to cancel the 2019/20 football season at their meeting on Tuesday, June 16, 2020.
But the football regulatory body has described the said publication on ghanasoccernet.com as false, malicious and intended to cause injury to the reputation of the GFA.
The publication is also calculated to deliberately cause confusion and disdain among the members of the Association, sponsors, players, club owners and other stakeholders.
“The GFA wishes to state categorically that no such decision was taken by the Executive Council of the GFA and as such the publication should be disregarded and treated with contempt by our stakeholders and the public.
“We are extremely concerned that though the Association has a good relationship with the media and ghanasoccernet.com, the website failed to crosscheck the story with the Communications Department of the Association, thereby failing to comply with the ethics of journalism. Indeed, there is no prize for fake news in the Code of Ethics of the noble profession.
The Association, the statement said, has in countless media publications stated and repeated that Tuesday, June 30, 2020, as deadline for its final decision on the season after considering all factors including but not limited to the outcome of the various consultations, discussions and engagements with all our stakeholders, such as clubs, sponsors, and government.
It said the GFA has also taken notice of other fake and negative publications on the same website (ghanasoccernet.com), such as the one with the headline, Ghana FA to lose MTN FA Cup sponsorship if season is cancelled.
“Though we hasten to conclude that there is a deliberate agenda to destroy the efforts of the Association to #BringBackTheLove, the website leaves us with only a little doubt that it wishes to harm the corporate image of the GFA, its members and our proud partners.
“The GFA would continue to open its doors to all media networks, however, the Association would not hesitate to seek legal redress to defend its corporate image when the Association is deliberately and/or recklessly maligned or injured through unverified reportage.
“The GFA expects a retraction of the fake story immediately and an apology to the Association and all our stakeholders forthwith.
“Once again, we wish to assure the public and all stakeholders that the Executive Council of the Association will take a decision on June 30, 2020, after considering all factors on the subject matter, a decision that would be in the best interest of Ghana Football.”
Source: Ghanaian Times
Sports
Beyond the FIFA badges
Twenty-two FIFA badges were presented to Ghanaian referees and assistants based on their performance from the previous year.
Historically, FIFA gives these Referees’ badges for the calendar year to the top ranked referees from the previous year who excel in both local and international matches.
And, owing to the importance of referees not only in sports but other spheres of life, it is important to congratulate them instead of attempting to denigrate the feat.
It is a major feat in every sense of the word. Selecting 22 from a field of hundreds of match officials across the country should tell us that these group of officials have done something good.
The recipients comprised 10 Centre Referees, 10 Assistant Referees, a Futsal Referee, Beach Soccer Referee, and Video Assistant Referee (VAR).
Officiating has been one of the most challenging areas in sports in Ghana, especially football and it is a global phenomenon.
In fact, the recent rift between the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Boxing Association (IBA) leading to the latter’s split is as a result of ills committed by referees.
Football has not been spared of the controversies associated with officiating with announcement of referees’ sanctions flying around most of the time.
In the Ghana Premier League (GPL), it is a major worry for clubs, especially when they are faced with away matches where some of their calls beats one’s imagination.
A lot of the incidents that have clouded the game’s integrity in controversy have come from referee’s decisions with the unfortunate May 9 Accra Sports Stadium incident.
At the presentation ceremony, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) President, Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku, and General Secretary, Prosper Harrison Addo, congratulated the officials and made statement I found very profound.
“This is not to say that there have not been challenges. Refereeing is an art that has to grow continuously. On that journey of growth, there will be mistakes. On that journey of growth, there will be challenges.
“But when you are very motivated and your eyes are fixed on excellence, you continue to invest in yourself and to challenge yourself towards being much better at every given opportunity. That’s why I’m so happy about the performances you guys have put up on the African continent, especially. We will continue to push and to ask for more opportunities for you. And I hope that when such opportunities come, you will not disappoint us.”
The duo were right in their statements but what they failed to add were the roles expected of them to play in order to ensure that the performances of these referees are improved and make those investment in themselves.
Referees themselves have complained about treatment meted out to them on several platforms. They go for months without being paid their allowances.
In a funny and jovial manner, some shared how they take loans from their wives/partners to enable them travel to match destinations and return on that same money source.
If such a debt hangs around the neck of the referee, how can he get the concentration to interpret the laws of the game on the field of play?
The only way out for such a referee would be to officiate to the gallery of the home team who as host would make every pleasantry available to the referee – accommodation, feeding, money and others.
This is the reason why the FA must put in place the needed measures to ensure that the referees gets the needed support to improve their standards.
In cases when they are found culpable of some of the incidents that mars a game, they must be quickly sanctioned to serve as a deterrent to others.
By Andrew Nortey
Sports
Legon Cities can worsen plight of Dreams FC
The 2024-25 Ghana Premier League enters the second-round phase this weekend with leaders Bibiani Gold Stars trekking to the University of Ghana Stadium in Legon to play as guests of Legon Cities.
Cities are chasing their fifth win of the season and coming on the heels of the 3-0 thrashing of Dreams FC a week ago, the stakes would be high.
Coach Yaw Acheampong believes his boys are on the road to move out of the relegation zone, and home games such as this presents them with the chance to do so.
For visiting coach Stephen Frimpong Manso, his side’s performance on the road has not been anything to write home about; however, their last visit to the venue marked a turnaround as they picked all three points against Accra Hearts of Oak.
On the heels of the league leaders is Nations FC, who will be at the Nana Fosu Gyeabour Park in Bechem to battle sixth-placed Bechem United in an entertaining contest.
Accra Hearts of Oak will make a trip to the Crosby Awuah Memorial Park in Nzema Anyinase to play as guests of Basake Holy Stars
In-form Kumasi Asante Kotoko will look to secure a second consecutive victory when they host Karela United at the Baba Yara Stadium.
In other games, Young Apostles host Nsoatreman FC in the Bono derby at the Wenchi Stadium, Berekum Chelsea play Vision FC at the Golden City Park, Heart of Lions lock horns with Aduana Stars while defending champions Samartex 1996 slug it out with struggling Dreams FC at the Nsenkyire Arena.
By Raymond Ackumey
