The Match Review Panel of the Ghana Football Association has announced its decisions on seven complaints by Division One League Clubs for Match Day 9, 10, 11 and one complaint from a Women's Premier League club for Match Day 7.

Below are the decisions taken by the Review Panel

1. BOFOAKWA TANO VS. BRONG AHAFO UNITED (MATCH DAY 10)

 SUMMARY OF COMPLAINT

1. In the 83^rd minute Assistant Referee 1 (Samuel Owusu) denied Bofoakwa Tano a clear penalty after a goal bound effort struck the arm of an opponent in the penalty box and subsequently deflecting the shot out of play and to the amazement of all the penalty was not given neither was a corner kick even though the ball came off the opposing defender, instead a surprising call for a goal kick was awarded.

OBSERVATIONS, FINDINGS AND GROUNDS OF THE DECISION

In the 83^rd minute of the match, the video watched showed that, the ball hit the hand of the defender of B. A. United in the penalty area, but the hand was at the natural position hence there was no foul committed. However, the ball crossed the goal line, the restart should have been a corner kick for Bofoakwa Tano FC which the referee did not award.

DECISION

The referee, (Adamu Abdul Rasheed) and his Assistant (Samuel Owusu) are cautioned to be vigilant in their officiating.

2. BOLGA ALL STARS VRS. UNITY FC (MATCH DAY 11)

 SUMMARY OF COMPLAINT

1. In the 21^st minute of the Second half, the referee and assistant line two awarded a goal which did not cross the line of Bolga All Stars.

2. Unity FC had a clear goal opportunity which the assistant line one raised his flag for an offside in the 26^th minute of play.

OBSERVATIONS, FINDINGS AND GROUNDS OF THE DECISION

In the 66^th minute, per the video watched, the free kick taken by player number 7 of Bolga All Stars was punched (Saved) by the goalkeeper of Unity FC. The whole of the ball did not cross the goal line in between the goal post. Hence the goal was wrongly awarded.

The 71^st minute complaint was not seen in the video provided.

Referees official responses

The Referee and Assistant Referee 2 insisted that the ball crossed the goal line. However, the referee called back and said because of his position he was unable to see it clearly and so depended on the Assistant Referee 2.

DECISION(S)

Referee Ali Asante and his Assistant Referee 2 Donmua Moro Ahmed are suspended for eight (8) match days effective the publication day.

3. HASAACAS LADIES VRS. BERRY LADIES (MATCH DAY 7)

 SUMMARY OF COMPLAINT

1. The referee refused to whistle for a foul in the 70^th minute.

2. She refused to whistle the end of the game even though the fourth official was seen signaling her that time was up. She only whistled the end when the home team had scored.

OBSERVATIONS, FINDINGS AND GROUNDS OF THE DECISION

1. Per the video watched in the 70^th minute the attacker (No. 15) of Hasaacas Ladies pushed player (No. 25) of Berry Ladies in the penalty area of Berry Ladies, but the referee failed to take the foul. This resulted in a goal for Hasaacas Ladies.

2. About the complaint of 53 minutes additional time played as alleged by the Berry Ladies, the video showed that the referee played about 25 minutes. Even though the fourth Referee showed four (4) minutes additional time. It was during the additional time period that Hasaacas Ladies got the equalizer.

Referees official responses

The referee admitted that indeed there was a foul committed by Hasaacas attacker before the goal was scored. Also, she said that she forgot to start her time when Berry Ladies goalkeeper got injured, and that led to the excess additional minutes played.

DECISION(S)

Referee Lovia Doudu is therefore suspended for four (4) matches effective the day of publication.

4. HEART OF LIONS FC VS. TEMA YOUTH SC (MATCH DAY 9)

 SUMMARY OF COMPLAINT

1. Between the 50^th to 60^th minute of play in the second half, player of Heart of Lions in jersey no. (24) was pulled down in the penalty box of Tema Youth but was ignored by Referee Isaac Brobbey.

2. In the 86^th to 93^rd minute, a shot by player of Heart of Lions towards goal clearly hit the hand of a Tema Youth defender in the penalty box but was again overlooked by the referee.

OBSERVATIONS, FINDINGS AND GROUNDS OF THE DECISION

1. In the 55^th minute of the match, the video watched showed that the defender of Tema Youth held the attacker of Heart of Lions in a way which does not warrant a foul. The referee’s decision not to award a penalty was in order.

2. On the 90^th minute complaint of hand ball, the video did not show a clear hand ball situation. A corner kick was taken by Heart of Lions and the defender of Tema Youth headed the ball back to the player who took the corner. Per the movement of the ball the player could not have used the hand.

DECISION(S)

The referees are therefore exonerated from the complaints.

5. INTER ALLIES FC VS. SUSUBIRIBI SC (MATCH DAY 9)

 SUMMARY OF COMPLAINT

1. In the 90^th + 1 minute, a player of Susubiribi SC pushed Inter Allies player in the 18-yard box. The Referee and Assistant Referee 1 did not take a foul and within that very minute, the same player volleyed the ball with his right hand into the pole of Inter Allies. The Referee and his Assistant 1 accepted it as a goal despite the appeal from the captain of Inter Allies that it was a foul and a hand ball.

OBSERVATIONS, FINDINGS AND GROUNDS OF THE DECISION

Per the video watched, the goal scored by Susubiribi SC in the 91^st minute was a perfect goal. There was no pushing nor hand ball situation prior to the goal scored.

DECISION(S)

Referee Morrison is highly recommended for a bold decision taken at the ending part of the game.    

6.   SAMARTEX FC VS. SOCCER INTELLECTUALS (MATCH DAY 9)

SUMMARY OF COMPLAINT

1. Referee Mortey Mawuli refused to award Soccer Intellectuals a direct free kick in the penalty area of Samartex FC after player in jersey no. 14 (Derrick Otabil) of Soccer Intellectuals had an obvious goal scoring opportunity in the penalty area of Samartex FC but was impeded by the goalkeeper of Samartex in the 10^th minute of the 1^st half.

OBSERVATIONS, FINDINGS AND GROUNDS OF THE DECISION

Per the video watched in the 12^th minute of the game, the attacker number 14 of Soccer Intellectuals had an obvious goal scoring opportunity but the goalkeeper of Samartex in an attempt to play the ball, kicked the leg of the attacker. Hence clear foul was committed in the penalty area. Referee Mortey Mawuli did not award the penalty but took a goal kick which was indicated by the Assistant referee 2 after the referee looked at the Assistant referee 2

referee’s official responses

The referee was of the view that the attacker stretched his leg to meet the goalkeeper hence the fall of the attacker. However, he agreed that the attacker had advantage of the ball and fell as a result of the goal keeper’s clash.

DECISION(S)

Referee Mortey Mawuli’s decision changed the result of the match and hence he is suspended for eight (8) match days effective the day of publication. The Assistant 2 (Emmanuel Opoku) is also suspended for four (4) matches for indicating a goal kick instead of an obvious penalty.

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