2026 World Cup: Ghana must study referees as closely as opponents

As the FIFA World Cup evolves, so do the rules that govern the game. The 2026 FIFA World Cup comes with several regulatory adjustments and stricter enforcement standards intended to improve fairness, reduce time-wasting, and enhance the spectator experience.

While some of these changes may appear minor on paper, history has shown that small decisions can have enormous consequences on the pitch.

For Ghana, success at the World Cup will depend not only on talent, tactics, and physical preparation, but also on the team's ability to understand and adapt to the behavioural expectations embedded in the new rules.

Football matches are often decided by moments. A delayed substitution, dissent towards a referee, excessive time-wasting, failure to respect technical area protocols, or repeated minor infringements can lead to cautions that fundamentally alter the course of a game.

A second yellow card resulting from a seemingly insignificant mistake can leave a team playing with ten men at a critical stage of the tournament.

The Ghana Football Association (GFA), the Black Stars technical team, and the players themselves must therefore appreciate a reality that communication scholars and psychologists have long understood, decisions are rarely made in a vacuum.

Referees are expected to be neutral, and rightly so. However, anyone who has followed football over the years will admit that some refereeing decisions can be difficult to explain.

In certain instances, the actions of referees may be perceived by players, coaches, and supporters as deliberate bias. Whether those perceptions are justified is another matter.

The reality is that football remains a human activity, and human beings make judgments under pressure.

Communication and psychology research suggest that decisions are often influenced not only by facts but also by impressions, attitudes, previous interactions, and observed behaviour.

Referees are no exception. Throughout a match, they observe how players, coaches, and technical staff conduct themselves. They notice who repeatedly challenges decisions, who respects instructions, and who consistently pushes the boundaries of acceptable behaviour.

This does not mean that referees intentionally favour one team over another. It does, however, mean that behaviour can shape perception.

A disciplined team may receive the benefit of doubt more easily than a team that constantly appears confrontational.

Psychologists describe this as attribution, that is: the tendency to form judgments about intentions and character based on observed behaviour.

The implication for the Black Stars is that every action communicates something. Every protest, delay, or unnecessary confrontation contributes to how a team is perceived during a match.

Another important reality is that not all referees manage games in the same way. Based on my own observation of football officiating, referees often fall along what I describe as a paternalistic–maternalistic spectrum.

Paternalistic referees tend to place strong emphasis on authority, strict compliance, and immediate enforcement of the rules, responding firmly to challenges to their decisions.

Maternalistic referees, on the other hand, are more inclined towards persuasion, dialogue, and player management, often seeking to reduce tension and restore order before resorting to disciplinary sanctions. Neither approach is inherently better than the other; both operate within the Laws of the Game.

However, teams that quickly recognise a referee's management style and adapt their behaviour accordingly are often better positioned than those that fail to do so.

This is why understanding the behavioural tendencies of match officials should form part of Ghana's preparation for the World Cup, just as studying opponents has become a routine part of modern football.

The technical bench also has an important role to play. Referees do not observe only the players on the field; they are equally aware of what happens in the technical area. Coaches, assistants, substitutes, and team officials all contribute to the atmosphere of a match.

Research in communication and social learning shows that people often model the behaviour of leaders. When players observe coaches repeatedly arguing with officials, they may feel justified in doing the same.

Conversely, when coaches demonstrate calmness, discipline, and emotional control, players are more likely to follow their example.

This becomes even more important under the new FIFA regulations. Some behaviours that were previously overlooked or treated more leniently may now attract stricter sanctions.

Delays during substitutions, repeated time-wasting, or misconduct within the technical area could carry consequences that affect the outcome of a match.

These may appear to be minor issues. Yet World Cups are often decided by very fine margins.

A needless caution can lead to suspension later in the tournament. A second yellow card arising from a preventable mistake can undo months of preparation within seconds.

For this reason, education must become part of preparation. The Black Stars should train not only for tactical situations but also for regulatory ones.

Players should repeatedly rehearse substitution procedures, communication protocols with officials, time-management expectations, and other scenarios that may attract sanctions under the new rules.

The technical team must reinforce these lessons consistently during camps, friendly matches, and competitive fixtures. Knowledge alone is not enough; compliance must become habit.

However, the responsibility does not rest with the GFA and the technical team alone.

The Ghanaian media, particularly sports journalists and sports desks, have a critical role to play.

Unfortunately, sports discussions in Ghana often become most intense after controversial incidents occur.

Once a player has been sent off, a penalty awarded, or a disputed decision made, analysts suddenly begin explaining the rules. By then, emotions have taken over and misinformation spreads quickly.

This approach must change. Sports journalists should not wait for controversy before educating the public. The period leading to the World Cup presents an opportunity to prepare supporters for the realities of the new regulations.

Television stations, radio programmes, newspapers, sports websites, and social media platforms should dedicate time to explaining what has changed, how referees are expected to apply the rules, and what players must do to avoid unnecessary sanctions.

Such education will help supporters better understand the game and reduce needless accusations, conspiracy theories, and misunderstandings when decisions are made according to the laws of football.

As Ghana prepares for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, discussions will rightly focus on player selection, tactics, fitness, and team chemistry. Yet equal attention must be given to understanding the new regulations, the psychology of officiating, and the behavioural expectations of the modern game.

The Black Stars cannot control every refereeing decision. What they can control is their preparation, discipline, communication, and understanding of the rules. Likewise, the media can help ensure that supporters are informed long before the first whistle is blown.

The difference between progressing to the next round and boarding the flight home may not be a spectacular goal or a tactical error. It may be a delayed substitution, an avoidable yellow card, or an unnecessary argument with a referee.

Ghana must therefore prepare not only for its opponents but also for the realities of the modern game.

The GFA, the technical team, the players, and the media all have a role to play in ensuring that avoidable mistakes do not undermine the nation's World Cup ambitions.