The Match Review Panel of the Ghana Football Association has announced its decisions on complaints by Premier League side Medeama SC as well as Division One League Clubs Soccer Intellectuals and Bekwai Youth Football Academy. Below are the decisions taken by the Review Panel.

ACCRA LIONS VS. MEDEAMA (MATCH DAY 16)

The Match Review during its sitting reviewed the match between Accra Lions and Medeama SC, though there were no complaints lodged by any of the teams.

OBSERVATIONS, FINDINGS AND GROUNDS OF THE DECISION

It was observed from the video that in the 20th minute of the match a goal was scored by Medeama but was ruled off-side. However, the footage showed that there was no offside incident anywhere and the goal showed have stood.

REFEREE’S OFFICIAL RESPONSES

We tried to get the response of the referee but could not get him to respond. However, the Assistant 2, (Banabas Amenyo) responded that he erred by taken the offside. He admitted that the goal should have stood.

DECISION(S)

Since the decision of the offside was taken by the Assistant Referee 2, (Banabas Amenyo) which changed the result of the match, he is suspended for twelve (12) match days, effective the day of publication.

The panel also recommend that the Assistant Referee 2 Banabas Amenyo’s understanding of the Offside Law is questionable. The Assistant Referee must be given further training after serving his suspension at the lower-level division.

SAMARTEX VS. BYFA (MATCH DAY 7)

OBSERVATIONS, FINDINGS AND GROUNDS OF THE DECISION

The video provided did not show any manhandling of some officials of BYFA by Samartex team officials at the beginning of the second half.

It was also observed from the video footage that there were serious confrontations all over when the penalty was awarded to Samartex. The police indeed used the electric shocker on the field as complain. We therefore refer this part of the complaint to the Disciplinary Committee.

The video watched showed that the referee played about 15minutes injury time and within the period a penalty was awarded to Samartex FC. On the penalty awarded, it was observed that the attacker of Samartex FC pushed the defender of BYFA slightly and felled on the ground. The BYFA defender did not commit any foul in the penalty area which warrants an award of penalty.

It was also observed that the referee was far from the incident and his anticipation was poor.

REFEREE’S OFFICIAL RESPONSES

Referee Courage Ampofo when contacted said he was in car travelling and, he is not using smart phone and therefore could not watch the video sent to him.

DECISION(S)

Referee Courage Ampofo’s wrong decision of awarding penalty caused the confrontations on the field of play and changed the result of the match. He is therefore suspended for eight (8) match days, effective the day of publication.

RECOMMENDATION

We recommend that the Disciplinary Committee should investigate the behavior of the players of BYFA and the police on duty on the day of the match.

SOCCER INTELLECTUALS VS. NEW EDUBIASE FC (MATCH DAY 14)

SUMMARY OF COMPLAINT

1. A goal was scored by a player of New Edubiase FC against Soccer Intellectuals by a player who was in an offside position in the ninth minute of the second half.
2. In the 46th minute of the second half, a player in jersey no. 10 (Nana Abakah) of Soccer Intellectuals had an obvious goal scoring opportunity in the penalty area of New Edubiase. He was however impeded by the goalkeeper of New Edubiase. Referee Kegyah Godfred refused to award a direct free kick in the penalty area of New Edubiase FC.

OBSERVATIONS, FINDINGS AND GROUNDS OF THE DECISION

1. Per the video watched, the 54th minute goal scored by New Edubiase FC was not an offside as complained by Soccer Intellectuals. This is because the player number 15 of Soccer Intellectuals was ahead of the goal scorer of New Edubiase FC.
2. The 91st minute complain, the video showed that there was no clear contact between the number 10 player of Soccer Intellectuals and the goalkeeper of New Edubiase FC. The fall of the attacker was because of wrong movement of the leg when he tried dribbling the goalkeeper before coming in contact with him.

DECISION(S)

The referee is therefore exonerated from the complaints.

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