“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32
And I believe this to be true, that we need to forgive each other as Christ forgave the church.
However, what the Referees Association of Ghana (RAG) has done is more of an endorsement of the wrongdoing.
For a Congress to agree to pardon all referees involved in the Number 12 Expose’ after all the evidence we saw in the Expose’ the gods must be crazy!!!
RAG has missed a fine opportunity to win the little respect the sporting public has in them. One would rather think that ,RAG will deal with this on case by case bases since some of the ethical infraction are more grievous than others.
For RAG to pardon a referee who can throw away the biggest game on our football calendar for goat, oil and rice when May 9th 2001 (126 people dead for perceived bad officiating) is still fresh in our minds, such referee deserves no pardon.
Disgraced Samuel Sukar deserves no pardon. I careless what motivated this decision, whether it was an election strategy or not, it only sends out one signal that RAG as an association has no respect for the sporting public, that they are ready to protect their own irrespective of the damage it may cause the reputation of the association.
Background
Two months after the release of the documentary the Executive Committee of the Referees Association of Ghana confirmed the suspension of 74 match officials caught up in the famous Number 12 video.
The video which was aired in June 2018 brought Ghana football to a stand still as Referees and Football Administrators were caught taking bribes in different forms to influence the outcome of matches. The list of suspended people included Referees, Assistants Referees and Retired Referees.
It’s important to point out that the decision only lift the ban of RAG on these referees but the good news is that the ban from the FA is still in full force. So they can shamelessly continue to carry themselves as RAG members, attend their programs and all but can’t carry themselves as referees in good standing with the FA.
Below is the list of referees suspended
Prosper Adii
Issaka Afful
Reginald Lathbridge
Nathan Anafo
Cecil Amatey Fleischer
Adaari Latif
ASSISTANT FIFA REFEREES
Dawood Ouedraogo
Ibrahim Adam Badiu
Eric Nantiere
A. S. Malik
David Adjin
David Laryea
Theresa Akogyam
PREMIER REFEREES
Yaw Ametepey
Fally Gagba
William Agbovi
Sylvester Adzoku
S. B. Bortey
Nuhu Liman
Mclord Arhin
Emmanuel Ansah
Amofa Sarkodiee
Justice Adu Poku
Timothy Obuobisa
Wiseman Ghansah
Prince Amoah
Samuel Sukah
Samuel Kyeremeh
Otis Oppong
Awal Mohammed
Daniel Dogbetor
Uriah Glah
Eku Boateng
Solomon Mordey
PREMIER ASSISTANT REFEREES
Alhassan Yahaya
Haruna Bawh
Safo Adade
Samuel Borquaye
Damuel Opoku Boateng
Alhassan Badiu
Ben Wormawor
Emurana Salifu
Joseph Ayambila
Salifu Rahman
Samuel Asiedu
Joseph Sey
Sshitey Armah
Jason Nunoo
Philip Darko
Ashong Ibrahim
Augustine Akugri
Ben Samari
Kennedy Bentil
Freeman Awulo
Nii Kotey Kotei
DIVISION ONE REFEREES
Heyford Adehe
Dickson Wellington
Abraham Poku
Prince Coffie
DIVISION ONE ASSISTANT REFEREES
Saviour Amevor
Atsu Dogbey
Charles Abloh
Daniel Diawu
Joseph Laryea
E. B. Quaye
WOMEN LEAGUE
Fulera Iddrisu Bamie
Eugenia Asigri
Richlove Awuah
Esther Awo Detse
RETIRED REFEREES
Leanier Addy
S. A. Quaye
Wellington Joseph
Umar Teni
Charles Dowuona
By Ohene Bampoe-Brenya
