Veteran referee Ernest Asare Bediako has expressed concern over the declining state of refereeing in Ghana, lamenting how the profession has deteriorated over time.
In an interview with Citi Sports, he acknowledged that the assault of referees is unacceptable and it is a consequence of poor training and what he describes as “favoritism” by the Ghana Football Association (GFA).
“I have not been very happy about the current situation, I remember talking and talking about it, but nothing changed. I even traveled to the U.S., and when I came back, there was still no improvement. The problem lies in referee training and favoritism from the GFA.”
He further criticized the quality of officiating, stating that many referees lack proper training and, as a result, struggle to command respect on the field.
“Sometimes, you see someone who is not qualified at all but they join the Referees’ Association and within a short time, they become a Class One referee.”
Attacks like this happen mostly in our @DivisionOneGH almost every weekend.
I promise there are a number of factors that lead to attacks like this .Will it ever stop? @ghanafaofficial@ElminaSharks vs @allblacksufc_45 pic.twitter.com/Ue0ASa34Zg
— Bennard Abeiku okyere (@bennardokyere) February 18, 2025
