The match review panel of the Ghana Football Association has handed referee Eso Doh Morrison an eight-match suspension, for awarding a wrongful penalty against Hearts of Oak.
The centre referee awarded a second half penalty against home side, Accra Hearts of Oak during their matchday three fixture game at the Accra Sports Stadium against Aduana stars.
Aduana stars, who took advantage of the decision scored from the spot kick and picked a point after the game ended in a 1-1 draw.
A statement signed by the chairman of the match preview panel, Dr. Francis Eyiah Bediako said, the 78th minute penalty awarded as well as the sending off of Heart’s defender Mohammed Alhassan was wrong after review.
“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” the statement stressed.
That said, the review panel added that, Eso Doh Morrison’s suspension takes effect Wednesday November 24, 2021 for the multiple errors committed.
In another development, referee Gabriel Opoku Arhin who handled the week two game between Kotoko and Bechem Utd has also been given a six-match suspension for refusal to show Kotoko’s Isamail Ganiyu a red card following a career threatening tackle on Emmanuel Avornyo.
Andrews Awurisa who acted as the fourth referee of the said game has also been suspended for four matches for his involvement.
On the part of referee Mahama Ewuntoma, he has been handed a six-match ban by the review panel for awarding a penalty to Ashanti Gold in their game against Karela United at Obuasi on matchday 1, an incident that is said to have “changed the results of the game”.
Meanwhile, the panel has applauded referee Maxwell Hanson and Emmanuel Azurago Tampuri for their understanding on the laws of the game and therefore urged the latter to continue to do more especially his assertiveness and proactiveness in speed and positioning on the field of play.
