Top Referees Demoted
-Deputy Chief Referee Affected

By Julu M. Johnson, Jr.

A major shakeup has been effected within the ranks of Liberian football referees.

The results of the 2006 FIFA Physical Fitness for referees, otherwise known as Cooper Test, held recently have given rise to the new look of things among the ¡§black knights of the whistle.¡¨

The Referees Standing Committee of the Liberia Football Association (LFA) decided on the demotion and promotion of referees at its meeting of last Saturday at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium (ATS) that lasted for many hours.

Most of those serving on the Committee have chosen to remain tightlipped on the matter.

It was, nevertheless, gathered very reliably that five top referees have lost their FIFA badge statuses and reduced to National Referees.

The decision was not taken on a silver platter as heated arguments among Committee members were said to have characterized the meeting. Idrissa Kaba heads the Committee, while the Co-Chairman is Sylvester D. Rennie and Daniel C. Forkpa, Secretary.

S. Weaka Peters and Arthur Y. Wesseh are also on the Committee.

As things now stand, Benedict Yarsiah¡¦s splendid performance was rewarded with the renewal of his FIFA badge and has been joined by Lamine Kamara, who was also impressed during the Cooper Test. The two now become the only FIFA Center Referees of Liberia.

The Deputy Chief Referee, Alphonso Nyanti would definitely lost his post as he has been dropped as a FIFA badge Center Referee for failing the Cooper Test during the 12-minute, 2,700 meters race. He failed the test before in 2004 before passing in 2005.

There was no room for compromise on Nyanti despite being a follower of the President of the Liberia Football Referees Association (LIFRA), Idrissa Kaba.

Patrick Paye and Sam Korti have also been relegated from being FIFA badge Center Referees to National Referees owing to the fact that they failed to take the Cooper Test.

 They have boycotted the two successive Cooper Tests.
All, except for one, FIFA badge Center Referees have been retained.

The Chief Referee of Liberia, Exodus Flanjay, Augustine Gooding, Buster Snyder and Sylvester Johnson are staying on after their good results during the test, but Joseph Kollie has lost his place for not taking part in the test.

Ebenezer Stanley Konah, in spite of serving as the Campaign Manager for LIFRA President Kaba during the February elections, has failed to regain his FIFA badge status after failing in 2005 and boycotting in 2006.

The Committee did not spare all other FIFA Assistant and Center Referees who didn¡¦t take the test. Jallah Korman was no exception to the rule.

Four female referees have gained FIFA badge statuses for the first time in their careers. Ophelia Doeway and Vivian Howard become FIFA Center Referees as Roseline Tweh and Jebeh Johnson benefit as FIFA Assistant Referees.

The Referees Standing Committee has submitted the proposed promotions and demotions list to the LFA Executive Committee for approval and subsequent submission to FIFA for endorsement.

Sources declared that anything contrary to the decision of the Committee would be considered dubious.

The decision seems to be a renaissance for refereeing in the country. This is because referees have failed to grab assignments for major international competitions like the 2008 African Nations Cup qualifiers, the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup for over six months.

Demotion as a result of failing or boycotting the Cooper Test has been a normal routine.

Sylvester Rennie was dropped as FIFA Assistant Referee after failing to take the test.

Before then, the current LIFRA President Kaba was dropped from officiating in an African Under-17 Championship finals hosted in Guinea years ago for failing to pass the fitness test.