Monrovia – Two Liberian football lovers have hailed the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) and the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) for the recent decision to suspend and ban match officials from Africa, who were found guilty of match-fixing following Ghanaian Journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas’ videotape on how match officials received bribe to change match result.
The Anas’ video featured over 110 referees and other top class football officials in Africa. Prime among them was the president of Ghanaian Football Association (GFA), Kwesi Nyantakyi, who has since stepped down his post as president of the GFA.
According to Anas’ undercover reporters, all the referees that officiated Ghana’s games at the September 2017 West African Football Union (WAFU) Tournament held in Cape Coast were bribed.
The investigators made specific reference to the September 16, 2017 Group ‘A’ match between hosts Ghana and Mali, which was officiated by Liberia’s Jerry Yekeh.
As shown, the referees were ushered in the room where Anas’ undercover reporters were giving out the cash by Charles Donwouna, a senior Ghanaian Technical Instructor, who was also in charge of referees at the 2017 WAFU Nations Cup.
Each of the official in the room received US$500 from the under covered reporters, who told them that they were for Team Ghana.
One of the video footages shows experienced Liberian referee Jerry Yekeh among some referees, who were receiving bribes ahead of the match between Ghana vs Mali in the 2017 WAFU Nation Cup held in Cape Coast, Ghana. Although Yekeh was not captured receiving money like his colleagues did in the referee room, the Liberian was clearly seen in the video bringing some match materials in the room where the action was taking place and later went behind the scene.
In a release issued Saturday, July 7, 2018, the Disciplinary Board of CAF announced that Jerry and 10 other officials have been suspended provisionally until they meet the board on August 5, 2018 to clear themselves.
Eleven others have also been handed bans ranging from two to 10 years, while others have also been banned for life.
Ambulah Mamay, who is a football crazy supporter, acknowledged that the suspension of those accused referees by CAF in collaboration with FIFA is a step forward for the growth of the game in Africa.
Jerry Yekeh and his comrades from other countries in Africa are responsible to underwrite the cost for their trip to Cairo and back.
“What I understand from the report is that referee Yekeh was in the perimeter of where the match-fixing occurred so CAF in collaboration with FIFA are suspicious that he participated in the bribery and has been given the opportunity to go and prove himself innocent,” local manager of BYC winger Fallah Sherriff said.
Mamay explained that he is not too sure Yekeh is able to shoulder the cost associated with his traveling to Cairo to exonerate himself from the accusation.
“Considering the fact that whatsoever affects him affects the country, I think it is only prudent that the Liberia Football Association (LFA), the Ministry of Youth and Sports underwrite the cost of Yekeh going to clear himself from the accusation levied against him which by extension is providing clarity to the integrity of the Liberia Football Referee Association (LFRA).”
Mamay doubts Yekeh going to Cairo to exonerate himself from the accusation levied against him without the help of LFA and the Ministry of Youth and Sports because of the high coast of his trip to that North African country and the low salaries referees in Liberia earn monthly.
Former First Division United Soccer Ambassador FC president, Faustinus S. Doe, who is the president of Football Lovers Association of Liberia (FLAL) described the action taking by CAF and FIFA as very timely and urged them not leave any stone untouched.
Doe said as former president of one of the powerful first division teams in Liberia, he experienced lot of match-fixing against his team in several of the games they played, so he is happy for CAF’s involvement in the matter.
He asserted that if CAF keeps on such investigation against those, involved in match-fixing, the game will be improved on the continent.
“We are all worried about the sad news we are getting from Africa’s highest football house, CAF against a man we all considered as one of the best FIFA badged referees in the country. I am not saying that Yekeh is guilty of the accusation levied against him, but he needs to prove himself innocent.”
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