Referee Alex Quartey blasts GFA

Referee Alex Quartey, Ghana's best rated FIFA referee said the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has failed to recognise and appreciate the role referees play in the development of the game.

Speaking to the GNA Sports on Saturday, the referee said it is unfortunate that the GFA tries to find faults with the referees without making any efforts to raise their standard.

He said though referees play a pivotal role in the national league those at the helm of football administration do not deem it appropriate to organise refresher courses for them to update their knowledge with modern trends of the game.

Referee Quartey said for 21 years now, the GFA had not provided referees with any kits but all they do is, to castigate them at the least opportunity.

The FIFA badge referee said it a shame that the GFA still pays them 115 cedis per premier league match and offers them 15 cedis for food per day while GHALCA paid them 500,000 cedis each per match during the LG Top 4 tournament.

He said though the 2003 premier league had had a sponsorship package of one billion cedis, the GFA has failed to inform the referees about what their share of the deal would be.

"Our job is full of all sorts of risks and we are not covered by any proper insurance policy. One of our colleagues Joe Coffie died some time ago in an accident when he was travelling to officiate in a match between Iron Breakers and Dawu Youngsters.

"How can we perform when there is no encouragement and motivation coming from the football association?"

Referee Quartey also complained about the poor state of communication between the GFA and the Referees, adding that though referee Joseph Wellington was selected to handle the match involving Real Tamale United and Asante Kotoko in Bolgatanga, he was informed only on Thursday afternoon.

He said the short notice would force referee Wellington to travel at odd times in order to arrive on time for the match.

The referee won the Sports Writers Association of Ghana's (SWAG's) referee of the year on three consecutive occasions said it would be in the interest of the game if the FA would show more respect to referees by meeting with them regularly to listen to their complaints with the view of finding a lasting solution to them.