One for Elmina Sharks’ management

I was totally appalled by the news this week that, the match day eight Ghana Premier League fixture between Elmina Sharks and Medeama at the Nduom Stadium on Wednesday ended abruptly.

Referee Nuhu Liman sustained a head injury which didn’t allow him to continue the game. An eyewitness account given by Assistant Referee, Joseph Sey on Nhyira FM and the story told by the Chairman of the Referees Association of Ghana (RAG), Joe Debrah on Okokroko FM, indicate that, Referee Nuhu was hit by a stone apparently thrown by an incensed Elmina Sharks fan.

Elmina Sharks have denied that claim. In what has been termed as a ridiculously weak explanation of what happened to the referee, Elmina Sharks, in a statement signed by their Assistant Team Manager, Kelvin Aboagye Yeboah, said the referee “tripped and fell” on a policeman’s baton.

A colleague has described me as a puritan – holier than thou – for attempting to expose the irrationality imbedded in Elmina Sharks’ statement. I can always ignore insults. They are inherently unproductive. Let me also state my admiration of Elmina Sharks, who are a well-structured, generally professional club.

And far from being judgmental (I have no power to do so), it has to be said unequivocally that, Elmina Sharks insulted the intelligence of Ghana Premier League fans with their narrative on the incident. I’m sorry but they ridiculed us while being insensitive to Referee Nuhu.

Granted that Elmina Sharks’ management didn’t to want accept guilt; because they did nothing wrong and that, there has been no investigation into what happened to irrefutably prove their culpability; all they needed to do, in my view, was to either sympathise with Referee Nuhu, at least following his head injury (even if he tripped and fell as they claim) or better still remain mute until the GFA’s Disciplinary Committee establishes their guilt or innocence.

Groupe Nduom and Elmina Sharks have stood for something nice, something decent; something positive, something productive – in practically everything they have been associated with including football. It’s the reason we must point to Elmina Sharks that, they didn’t help their image and Ghana football with that statement.

I won’t go into the incident. The GFA’s Disciplinary Committee will competently do that. The committee is however advised not to delay with its judgement on whoever is guilty or innocent; in order to inspire more confidence in the system. Delays as seen in the past in matters like this aren’t helpful.

It’s appropriate now to wish Referee Nuhu speedy recovery and further admonish the GFA, clubs, the Police and all stakeholders to work to protect referees while ensuring the safety of lives and properties at match venues. It’s important we do that as we seek to develop the game.