LFA Referee Committee has with immediate effect suspended three (3) match officials for a period of 6 Match Days following complaints of their performance after just two rounds of matches in the new season.
Those affected are Elite Referees Emmanuel Mensah, who was in charge of Discoveries and champions Watanga game at the weekend and Joel Doe, Assistant Referee #1 in the season opener between Watanga and LISCR on Wednesday, 16 October.
Intermediary referee Peterson Leway, who served as Central Referee in Women’s Upper League fixture between Shaita and Real Muja on Sunday was the other official affected.
Following separate investigations into two complaints filed by Watanga against the two (2) Elite Referees, the Referee Committee concluded that Mr. Doe wrongfully disallowed a Watanga goal on 13 minutes in their 1-0 loss to LISCR last Wednesday.
Replays showed that a Watanga goal-bound shot clearly crossed the line off the underside of the bar before the LISCR goalkeeper quickly gathered the ball and restarted play.
The Committee also established that Mr. Mensah’s decision to qualify Discoveries 93rd minute winner against Watanga at Tusa Field on Sunday was a wrong call amd influenced the result of the game.
Mr. Mensah had called a penalty near the closing stages of the game and in the aftermath, the penalty was saved but Saah Moses was quickest to tap in the rebound from a position that replays showed he encroached inside the box.
Elsewhere, Intermediary Referee Peterson Leway was also axed following his decision to dismiss one of Real Muja players on account of simulation.
Mr. Leway showed a second yellow card and a dismissal on the stroke of half time, but again replays showed that the Real Muja player was fouled, an incident which forced her from the game.
The Referee Committee has since rescinded the red card and hit the referee with a six-game ban.( LFA)
Contributor: J. Vincent
