Referees must be dispassionate - Turkson

Mr Joseph Turkson, a member of the National Working Committee of Referees Association of Ghana (RAG) on Saturday urged referees and match commissioners to translate and apply the rules and regulations governing football dispassionately irrespective of the category of clubs or players.

"Guard against indecision on the field of play and be committed to enforcing prescribed standards that would in the long run contribute to the total development of the game," he said.

Mr Turkson was speaking at a three-day refresher course for Referees and Match Commissioners from the Volta Region, aimed at sharpening their fitness and preparedness and their knowledge of the laws of the game.

He said unprofessional conduct by referees and match commissioners undermines the beauty of the game and attracts the wrath and disrespect of spectators and football enthusiasts, hence the need for them to be circumspect in the performance of their duties.

Mr Turkson urged the participants to maintain a routine physical activity as a necessary recipe for gaining and sustaining their stamina, which is vital to good performance. Mr Mawutor Goh, Ho District Chief Executive (DCE) asked the participants "not to regard match officiating as a leisure but as a business oriented profession" and advised them to aim at attaining CAF and FIFA badges before they retire.

He called on the 12 District Assemblies in the Volta Region to assist in placing the region back on the national football calendar by sponsoring clubs within their areas of jurisdiction.

Mr Francis Dogbatse, Chairman of the Volta Regional Football Association (RFA) urged participants to eschew complacency and laziness and remain focused in order to achieve higher goals.

He cautioned Match Commissioners to desist from the late submission of match reports, which he said, "was negatively affecting the game." Mr Charles K. Gadotor, Volta Regional Chairman of RAG called on referees and match commissioners to shun acts of indiscipline and biases that would put the profession into disrepute.