Mahama calls for improvement in refereeing to revive Ghana football

Speaking during a meeting with representatives of Ghanaian clubs at the Jubilee House on Tuesday, Mahama said concerns about officiating are affecting the credibility of the domestic league and contributing to declining spectator numbers.

“Unfortunately, refereeing is one of the things that is destroying our soccer. The matches are played before they are played,” Mahama said.

The President said there is a perception among supporters that some matches are effectively decided before kick-off, making the league less competitive.

“Everybody knows that, for every match, there is a ways-and-means budget. It makes the league less competitive because the match has already been played,” he added.

“Somebody has won. So what’s the use going to play the match anyway?”

Mahama urged both the Ghana Referees Association and the Ghana Football Association to work towards improving refereeing standards.

“And so both the Ghana Referees Association and the [Ghana] FA should look to see how we can improve refereeing,” he said.

He also linked concerns over match officiating to declining attendance at league matches, saying some supporters have stopped going to stadiums because they believe results are predetermined.

“A lot of the spectators have abandoned going to watch matches because they believe that the matches are preset before they even go to play the match. So spectator numbers are dwindling,” Mahama said.

His comments came during a courtesy engagement with Medeama, Nations FC and Ampem Darkoa Ladies at the Jubilee House.

The President used the occasion to discuss the broader challenges facing Ghanaian club football and the need to restore the strength and credibility of the domestic game.

Source:Fiilasports/ghanasoccernet