RAG put 74 referees on ice

The Referees Association of Ghana (RAG) has suspended 74 referees in the country for allowing themselves to be compromised with money as captured and exposed by the #12 documentary by Anas Aremeyaw Anas.

The culprits, according to a press release signed by the Deputy General Secretary of the Association, Kwao Sampson, were under investigations “pending the final determination of their case by the Disciplinary Committee of RAG”.

RAG is taking action almost two months after some of their members were caught on video being offered cash gifts to fix matches at various levels of the local games.

According to the release, the suspension was to pave the way for a thorough investigation into the alleged corrupt acts by the referees following which they would act upon the recommendation of the Disciplinary Committee’s report.

The suspended knights of the whistle include six FIFA referees, including Reginald Lathbridge and Cecil Fleischer; seven assistant FIFA referees including David Laryea and Theresa Akogyam, as well as 21 Premier League referees and 21 Premier League assistant referees.

Four referees and six assistant referees in the Division One League (DOL) and four female referees have also been suspended, while five retired referees who still work with the association as Match Commissioners have not been spared also due to their involvement in the alleged scandal.