Referees not to blame for GPL’s woe – Kudjoe Fianoo
Former Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA) Chairman, Mr Kudjoe Fianoo, has raised concerns over the deteriorating standards of officiating in the Ghana Premier League (GPL), citing financial struggles and susceptibility to corruption as key factors.
Speaking to Citisports, Mr Fianoo lamented that referees were often left unpaid for weeks, making them vulnerable to external influences.
He argued that while poor officiating remains a long-standing issue, referees themselves were not entirely to blame.
“Officiating has been on the decline, but you can’t solely blame the referees. They go out to officiate matches and sometimes have to wait for weeks to receive a meagre payment. This system exposes them to corruption and other vices.”
Fianoo also highlighted the connection between poor officiating and hooliganism in Ghanaian football, noting that controversial decisions often fuel fan unrest.
“Hooliganism and football have always been intertwined, but officiating is a major trigger. When referees make repeated errors and suspicions arise that certain teams are being favoured or targeted for relegation, it creates an atmosphere of distrust.
Comparing the situation to the English Premier League (EPL), Fianoo pointed out that while referees there also make mistakes, the key difference lies in accountability.
In the EPL, referees are punished for poor decisions, but here in Ghana, it has become a pattern. The perception that officialdom is behind some of these decisions is an open secret. When there’s a cloud of suspicion hanging over our league, it damages credibility
He called for urgent reforms in officiating to restore confidence among clubs, players, and supporters.
“If referees are trusted and their decisions are respected, even genuine mistakes will be accepted. But when that trust is lost, hooliganism will continue to plague our game.”
His comments added to the growing calls for improved officiating in the Ghana Premier League, which struggles to maintain its integrity amidst allegations of bias and corruption, as it is set to resume after March 6.
—Citinewsroom.com
