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Referee Joseph Kenny Padi has been suspended for the rest of the league season after the Match Review Panel of the Ghana Football Association’s decision that the referee erred in awarding the penalty to Asante Kotoko in their Ghana Premier League Matchweek 24 game against Hearts of Oak.

In other decisions of the Panel, , Referee Misbaw Mohammed and Assistant Kenneth Tweneboah-Kodua have been suspended for the rest of the season for erring in the decision to award a penalty to Medeama SC in their match against King Faisal FC.

Below are decisions announced by the Match review panel:

1. ASANTE KOTOKO VS. HEARTS OF OAK (MATCH DAY 24)

SUMMARY OF COMPLAINT

1. In the 14^th minute of play, Referee Kenny Padi awarded a dubious penalty to Asante Kotoko when Hearts of Oak player, Nurudeen Abdul-Aziz won a 50 ball in their 18-yard box from Fabio Gama (No. 10) of Asante Kotoko.

Referees Response

The referee insisted that the Hearts player stepped on the foot of the Kotoko player which he later agreed that there was no stepping of foot after watching the video. He then defended that there was a push and pull at a point, which the video clearly showed that it was not the case.

OBSERVATIONS, FINDINGS AND GROUNDS OF THE DECISION

Per the video watched in relation to the 14^th minutes incident, player number 24 of Hearts of Oak challenged player number 10 of Asante Kotoko fairly. There was no foul committed which warranted any penalty. The hand on the back of the attacker had no impact on the attacker. More so the attacker should not have failing backwards if the fall was because of the hand of the defender, obviously it was not a push so falling backward suggest a premeditated attempt to fake a foul.

We also considered some factors:

1. If there was pushing as claimed by the referee, we did not see any movement of the arm from the back to forward. Meaning no HAND MOVEMENT
2. Neither pulling movement from front to back.
3. The attacker was already throwing himself down in a completely strange way.
4. If there was pulling or pushing as claimed by the referee, the attacker should have fallen on the face and not with his back as seen in the video. (FOOTBALL UNDERSTANDING)

The video also showed quite a number of inconsistencies in his decisions during his officiating of the match especially after the penalty incident. The referee lost concentration.

DECISION(S)

The Panel concluded that, per the video watched, and the referee’s defense is in contrast.

Per the video watched the Panel holds the view that the referee erred in awarding the penalty. This error changed the outcome of the match.

Therefore, the Referee Joseph Kenny Padi is suspended for the rest of the season. This includes all GFA organized matches.

2. MEDEAMA SC VS KING FAISAL FC (MATCH DAY 22)

SUMMARY OF COMPLAINT

1. In the 38^th minute of the game, Referee Misbaw Mohammed awarded a penalty to Medeama SC after player number 29 of Medeama was fouled outside the 18-yard box. This changed the outcome of the game.

OBSERVATIONS, FINDINGS AND GROUNDS OF THE DECISION

In the 38^th minute of the game, there was a foul committed outside the penalty area of King Faisal by a defender of King Faisal per the video watched. The referee picked the foul which occurred outside the penalty area but signaled for a penalty in favour of Medeama SC which was an error. We found that decision very strange since the markings were visible.

Referees response

The referee, Misbaw Mohammed and the Assistant Referee, Kenneth Tweneboah-Kodua both claimed they did not see clearly that the foul was committed outside the penalty area. They blamed each other for the error committed. The referee said he relied on the Assistant for his decision and the Assistant also claimed he relied on the action of the referee for his decision.

DECISION(S)

Since the referee and his assistant erred in their decision which changed the result of the match, Referee Misbaw Mohammed and Assistant Kenneth Tweneboah-Kodua are therefore suspended for the rest of the season. This includes all GFA organized matches.

3. BEREKUM CHELSEA VS. LEGON CITIES (MATCH DAY 24)

SUMMARY OF COMPLAINT

1. In the 37^th minute of play, the Referee awarded a penalty to Berekum Chelsea and an alleged foul by Legon Cities player number 5 on Berekum Chelsea player number 53.
2. The Referee denied Legon Cities a penalty for a foul committed by Berekum Chelsea’s goalkeeper in the 42^nd minute. The goalkeeper was seen dragging the Legon Cities player down by grabbing him with both hands around the neck.

OBSERVATIONS, FINDINGS AND GROUNDS OF THE DECISION

1. In the 37^th minute of the match, a defender of Legon Cities fouled an attacker of Berekum Chelsea. The referee awarded a penalty to Berekum Chelsea. Per the video watched the angle of foul was not clear. For the benefit of doubt the referee was in a better position to have seen the foul.
2. In the 42^nd minute incident, the goalkeeper of Berekum Chelsea was clearly seen pulling down Legon Cities player number 21 in the penalty area. This was a clear incident of foul which the referee ignored. Thus, an obvious penalty was ignored.

Referees Response

The referee was invited to explain his decisions. He explained why he gave the first penalty but was quick to accept that he erred completely for not awarding penalty to Legon Cities in the second incident.

DECISION(S)

Referee Isaac Osei’s decision changed the outcome of the match. He is therefore suspended for the rest of the season. This includes all matches organized by GFA.

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