MONROVIA – The Liberia Football Association (LFA) is facing a firestorm of criticism following its decision to slap a five-year ban on Shaita Angels FC President, Benita Whitney Urey.
By: Christopher C.Walker 0777898224/0886723075 [email protected]
Stakeholders across the football spectrum are now describing the ruling as “politically influenced,” “procedurally flawed,” and a “dangerous precedent” for the sport in Liberia.
The ban, handed down by the LFA Grievance and Disciplinary Committee, accuses Ms. Urey of violating Part II, Chapter 2 (20)(1 & 3) of the Disciplinary Code regarding alleged match manipulation during a 2024/25 First Division League match between Shaita FC and Paynesville FC a game that ended 7-0 to Shaita FC.
The ruling effectively exiles her from all football-related activities and stadium access until 2030.
However, the decision has ignited a backlash from club administrators, legal experts, and former executives who argue the punishment is rooted in speculation rather than concrete evidence.
In a blistering reaction, Emmett Glasco, President of a Senior Female Professional Football Club, accused the Mustapha Raji-led LFA of hypocrisy and an iron-fisted intolerance toward dissent.
“We didn’t know the ones who shouted yesterday would be the ones stopping others from shouting today,” Glasco wrote on his official Facebook page. “We didn’t know that every opposing view would be seen as hate, jealousy, or envy.”
Glasco lamented a “shrinking democratic space” within the local football governing body, alleging that criticism now attracts sanctions instead of dialogue.
He further took aim at LFA President Mustapha Raji, accusing him of prioritizing the silencing of critics over fixing infrastructural decay.
“He is running after every opposing view to ban them while ignoring sewage issues at the LFA’s $1.9 million headquarters,” Glasco alleged, before declaring his unwavering support:
“Prezo Benita Whitney Urey, we will stand with you until the end of this illegal ban.” Glasco said.
Andrew Akoi Tellewoyan raised the alarm over the legal basis of the committee’s findings. He argued that the LFA relied almost exclusively on allegations made within a WhatsApp chatroom. “Which judge or committee relies only on a comment in a chatroom to pass judgment?” Tellewoyan questioned.
According to Tellewoyan, no witnesses appeared before the committee during hearings attended by Urey not even those who allegedly leveled the accusations. He described the verdict as “unusual and unforeseen,” warning that it threatens the very foundation of sports governance.
“Fraud must not be presumed; it must be established,” Tellewoyan said, invoking the legal principle that the allegations must correspond with the probata (proof). He characterized the current legal climate within the LFA as an “existential threat” to fairness.
Former Shaita Angels coach Monroe Winn also jumped to Urey’s defense, citing her passion for women’s football as her primary motivation.
“Benita is emotional about football and her community. That emotion is her strength,” Winn said. While stating he condemns match-fixing, he insisted that a leader should not be pushed out based on hearsay. “If there is no clear evidence, she should not be targeted.”
Former DC Shooters FC CEO John Winn issued a more ominous warning, suggesting that the perceived misuse of power could lead to a breaking point. “WAR is coming in football, soon,” he wrote. “I know what disadvantage or misuse of power can cause. This kind of desperation and greed could take our football to a bloody turn.”
Reacting to allegations that the ban was a calculated move to silence a vocal critic, LFA President Mustapha Raji dismissed the claims as baseless. Speaking to reporters, Raji maintained that the Disciplinary Committee operates with full autonomy and that his office plays no role in its verdicts.
“I don’t get involved with committees’ decisions, so I don’t understand why people will come out with such [allegations],” Raji said. He emphasized that the ruling was an “independent decision” based on the committee’s findings rather than executive influence.
Raji further clarified that he is not “hunting” Urey for political reasons, despite her open support for his rivals in the upcoming LFA elections. “The process is institutional, not personal,” a source close to the LFA leadership added.
Amidst the outcry, Melton Yoko, a supporter of President Raji, urged stakeholders to trust the institutional process.
Yoko maintained that the LFA President does not sit on disciplinary committees and should not be blamed for their independent rulings. “This matter should not be viewed through a personal or political lens,” Yoko said, acknowledging Urey’s contributions to the game but stressing that her legal team should focus on the appeal process rather than public sentiment.
The controversy has exposed a deep rift within the Liberian football community. As Ms. Urey’s legal team prepares to file an appeal, the case has moved beyond a simple disciplinary matter to a litmus test for the LFA’s credibility and transparency.
With the future of one of the league’s most prominent female voices on the line, the football world now waits to see if the LFA’s higher bodies will uphold the ban or yield to the growing calls for a more evidence-based standard of justice.
