Two Refs Dropped
from FIFA Listing
The Liberia Football Association has dropped two International badge
referees of the Liberia Football Referees Association (LIFRA) from the
listing of the International Football Association (FIFA).
Those dropped are referees Sylvester Rennie and Alphonso Nyantee who
were dropped Wednesday by local football house’ Referees Standing
Committee headed by Mr. Dennis Forkpah.
The LFA dropped the two FIFA Badge Referees for their failure to take
the October edition of FIFA annual test, referred to as the “Cooper
Test”.
According to football authorities, the “Cooper Test” is administered
periodically as a way of keeping referees to standard and in form.
The Test has been administered several times to ensure that referees,
especially those on FIFA listing are up to the task.
But informed sources said Messrs Rennie and Nyantee failed to under
their obligation to participate in a recent edition of the Cooper
Test, something which has caused them their profession.
In spite of the punishment against the two international referees, an
associate of the Liberia Football Referees Association, James Weah,
has strongly criticized the suspension and/or expulsion of the two
referees.
Speaking to The Analyst in an interview yesterday before his departure
for Dakar, Senegal, Mr. Weah argued that the decision by the Referees
Standing Committee head and others was “personal”.
Mr. Weah said he does not see how one missing a test should give any
ground for suspension or expulsion for such crucial International
Referees listing that is prone to bring pride to the nation.
He further argued that the removal of the names of Messrs Rennie and
Nyantee was not only personal, but it was also unjustifiable, and
clearly elucidated the un-readiness of the FA’s Standing Committee to
see Liberian Referees excel on the international scene.
Mr. Weah’s argument is that there were other international referees,
including Samuel Kortie, who were not available on Sunday at the
Samuel K. Doe Sports Complex for the “Cooper Test”.
He wondered how could referee Samuel Kortie be spared and the others
punished if they all committed the same crime.
According to him, it is only reasonable that standards be set to met
out punishment and not thriving on personal interest or hate and
enviousness.
It is not only Mr. Weah, who has criticized the FA’s action against
the two international referees.
Other insiders and close associates of the LIFRA who preferred
anonymity have added their voices to Mr. Weah.
They believe the action by the LFA Referee committee is rather hasty,
untimely, unfair and pregnant with biases that have the propensity of
destroying the entire association of the whistle.
One noted, “What would be the justification of punishing someone for
not sitting a test when other missed the same test without valid
excuse?”
Soccer connoisseurs are arguing that if the Chairman of the LFA
Referee Committee is not being personal, then he might not be taking
sober decision that could help improve the system.
Some followers of football are now condemning the action of the LFA
Referee committee and are calling on other referees to condemn the
decision, saying that it could divide the association.
It is not known what motivated the suspension/expulsion of Referee
Sylvester Rennie, but since his appointment over a month ago as Deputy
Chief Referee there has been rigmarole over his appointed.
Referee Rennie’s appointment was vehemently opposed by a few referees
including Mr. Benedict Yassiah, said to be a cousin of the Chairman on
the Referees Standing Committee of the LFA, Mr. Forkpah.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the LFA referee committee, Forkpoh, has
already reportedly replaced the two international referees with
national referees Jallah Colma and Jay Exodus Flanjay, and has
forwarded their names to FIFA for a possible consideration.
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