In the Ghana Premier League match day three(3), Accra Hearts of Oak, current league champions hosted Aduana Stars at the Accra Sports Stadiums where the teams shared the spoils at the end of proceedings but the officiating to many was not as judicial as should have been and called for a look into the matter.
Accra Hearts of Oak took the lead and maintained their lead until match day referee, Eso Dh Morrison awarded a penalty kick to Aduana Stars and also flashing a red card to Accra Hearts of Oak skipper Mohammed Alhassan.
The foul which many adjudged as fictitious after a thorough investigation by the Ghana Football Associations Referees Committee found no wrong doing by the player and have reprimanded the refere.
In the decision statement, it reads;
“DECISION OF THE MATCH REVIEW PANEL OF THE GHANA FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION
Match Review Case 5 of 2021/2022
COMPLAINT BY HEARTS OF OAK SC
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ACCRA HEARTS OF OAK VRS. ADUANA FC (MATCH DAY THREE)
SUMMARY OF COMPLAINT
1. In the 23rd minute of the 1st half, Adam Farouk of Aduana FC brought down Daniel Afriyie Barnieh in the eighteen-yard box which referee Morrison failed to award a penalty to Hearts of Oak.
2. Again Adam Farouk broke down a goal scoring attack by bringing down Kofi Kordzi in the 73rd minute of the 2nd half.
3. Mohammed Alhassan was sent off by referee Morrison without committing foul. Bright Adjei of Aduana FC missed his step and fell in the 78th minute.
4. The Match Commissioner (Charles Darkwah) sat in the presidential box at the stadium disfranchising Hearts of Oak from channeling their concerns to him.
OBSERVATIONS, FINDINGS AND GROUNDS OF THE DECISION
Per the video watched, the 23rd minute complaint did not show any clear contact of the two players
involved in the tackle.
In the 63rd minute, there was a clear contact in the tackle between player of Heart No. 9 and Aduana player No. 24, but the referee rather judged it as a fair tackle instead of a foul. The referee erred.
In the 78th minute incident, player No. 15 of Hearts of Oak and player number 10 of Aduana were involved in contesting for the ball in the penalty area of Hearts of Oak. The referee awarded a penalty and a red card against the Hearts player number 15. This in our view was a wrong decision taken by the referee.
REFEREE’S OFFICIAL RESPONSE/DEFENCE
In talking to the referee, he tried to defend every action and decision he took during the match even when all the actions were replayed to him in the video clips.
DECISION(S)
The referee (Eso Doh Morrison) is hereby suspended for eight (8) matchdays effective from
the date of communication for the multiple errors committed during the match.
Signed: Dr. Francis Eyiah Bediako
Chairman, Match Review Pane”
