Monrovia – The President of the Liberia Football Association, Mustapha Raji, has advised referees to leave politics to politicians or quit refereeing and enter politics. Raji wants referees to focus on the laws of the game and how they can improve themselves. The LFA boss made the statement at the start of a FIFA 2023 elite referee course at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex in Paynesville.
By: Christopher C. Walker [email protected] 0886723075/0777898224
“I also want to remind the chairman and president of the referees’ association that referees aren’t politicians. I have realized over the period of four years that most of the referees have turned into politicians. You should focus on the game, focus on developing football, focus on officiating, focus on doing the right things. Facebook isn’t the place for referees. Referees shouldn’t go to Facebook to discuss referee’s issues. Referee’s issues should be discussed internally and handled by the referee committee. When decisions are taken, decisions can be made public,” Raji stressed.
He called on referees to internally correct mistakes made by their colleagues for the good of the fraternity. Former LFA secretary-general and referee committee member Idrissa Kaba thanked the LFA for applying for the course.
“The course is at FIFA, but you will have to apply for it and meet certain criteria. So we want to thank the president and his leadership. There were no uniforms when we attended the first FIFA referee course in Liberia in 1988. It was in 1992 that FIFA sent uniforms to Liberia. Today, you are smartly dressed, but we want you to also smartly implement the laws of the game,” advised Kaba.
Thirty referees (six women and 24 men) from Bong, Grand Bassa, Margibi, and Montserrado Counties are participating in the mandatory course, having completed medicals at Medlink Clinic on Randall Street on March 3 and physical tests on March 6. Jason Damon of Seychelles and former LFA secretary-general Isaac Montgomery, a FIFA-badged referee-emeritus, are serving as technical instructors, while former FIFA-badged assistant referees Abraham Fahnbulleh and Jay Exodus Flanjay are the physical instructors. Participants will refresh their knowledge on fitness tests (gate concept) and tactical foul/challenges, offside, positioning, and handball situations.
The course ends on March 10.