The GFA Disciplinary Committee has suspended Assistant Referee Eric Owusu Mensah for a period of four (4) weeks in respect of the MTN FA Cup Round of 16 match between Aduana stars FC and Istanbul FC played on May 24, 2015 at Dormaa.
The Assistant referee in the said match was charged for failing to control himself when his colleague referee was assaulted by a player; he punch Henry A. Salifu, a player of Istanbul FC in retaliation in violation of Articles 35(7)(d) and 39(7) of the GFA General Regulations.
DEFENCE Assistant Referee Eric Owusu Mensah in his Statement of Defence pleaded not guilty to the charge.
PROCEEDINGS AND FINDINGS The Committee examined the depositions in the Charge Sheet, the Statement of Defence and the reports of the match officials of the match.
In his Statement of Defence, Assistant Referee Eric Owusu Mensah stated that: “...In the 70th minute of the match, Player No.6 of Istanbul FC by named Henry A Salifu, elbowed Player No.9 Derrick Sassraku of Aduana Stars. Referee Kyeremateng sent him off by the show of red card. After he has been showed the red card, he used his footwear to stamp the face of the player who was lying down. He then went to my referee, who was then recording the incidents and gave him a heavy blow in the face. I and My Assistant Referee 2 rushed in to save our referee from further punishment from the player. I therefore write to this Honourable Committee that my action was not intentional but in reaction to the player’s action”.
The Committee watched the video of the match and finds that during the melee, Assistant Referee Eric Owusu Mensah threw a punch at the player which was returned but the punches were dodged. The Committee accepts the view that the conduct of the player prompted the action of Assistant Referee Eric Owusu Mensah. However, it is the position of the Committee that Assistant Referee Eric Owusu Mensah should have resisted the temptation irrespective of the behaviour of Henry A. Salifu. The Committee appreciates the efforts of the Assistants Referee but it is expected that he will be a “mediator” rather than to be moved by emotions.
The Disciplinary Committee was satisfied with the evidence before it that the conduct of Assistant Referee Eric Owusu Mensah is in breach of the GFA Regulations and will sanction him accordingly.
The Disciplinary Committee in sanctioning Assistant Referee Eric Owusu Mensah was mindful of Article 19(4) which provides as follows:
Article 19(4) “No person against whom disciplinary action has been taken or is pending shall be appointed to officiate in any competition under the jurisdiction of the Association. Where the disciplinary action results in sanctions, the disqualification herein contained shall cease to apply as soon as the sanction has been served.
DECISION
The Disciplinary Committee makes the following decisions:
1. That for failing to control himself when his colleague referee was assaulted by a player and for attempting to punch the player, Henry A. Salifu, Assistant Referee Eric Owusu Mensah is hereby suspended for a period of four (4) weeks in accordance with Articles 39(1) of the General Regulations of the GFA.
2. That the suspension in Decision 1 above shall take effect from the day of the charge, June 1, 2015 to June 28, 2015 in consequence of Article 19(4) of the General Regulations.
3. That should Assistant Referee Eric Owusu Mensah be dissatisfied with or aggrieved by this Decision he has within seven (7) days of being notified of this Decision to appeal to the Appeals Committee. (See Article 19(6) of the General Regulations of the GFA).