The Ethics Committee, chaired by Nana Adjei Ampofo (Chairman), has ended proceedings in the matter involving J.E. Sarpong for making unethical comments in the media over refereeing in the Glo Premier League.
J.E. Sarpong, who is the head coach of premier league side, Liberty Professionals has been pardoned after showing remorse for his comments and warned of his future conduct.
Ethics proceedings against J.E. Sarpong was opened on 20th March, 2012 to ascertain the truthfulness or otherwise of the alleged comments made by him.
The decisions, which were taken after a hearing by the Ethics Committee into the matter, are the following:
- The Committee observed that Coach Sarpong was full of remorse and his appeal for leniency was genuine. Considering Coach Sarpong’s stature in Ghana Football, the Committee finds the statement unfortunate and capable of inciting violence against referees. We have considered the matter as a whole especially the circumstances under which the statement was made and the remorseful manner in which the apology was made and decided that Coach Sarpong should be reprimanded which we have already done.
- Coach Sarpong should also, as promised by him, render an unqualified apology to the Ghana Football Association and the whole sporting public within the next 24 hours through the same medium he used to make his comment. The Committee showed leniency to Coach Sarpong because of his behaviour when he appeared before it.
- The Committee wants to state however that any similar behaviour by Coach Sarpong or anybody would be severely punished. Meanwhile, the Committee has taken note of these persistent complaints against Match Officials on and off the pitch and the Football Association and the Referees Committee should not ignore these complaints.
- The Committee also would like to use this occasion to inform all and sundry that any attacked on a referee whether on the field of play or outside it, is a crime which must be punished and that such attacked are not permitted because the victim was a referee. People who assault referees must be arrested and prosecuted.