Referees’ Chief labels calls to import foreign referees for Hearts-Kotoko clash disrespectful

The Head of Ghana’s Referees Body, Joe Debrah has described calls to import referees to officiate the crucial match between Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko as disrespectful.

The two giants clash on Sunday June 27 in a Ghana Premier League title decider with the game as usual dominating the media space before it even happens.

It’s the first time in a long time that both teams are going head to head for the GPL title, with both sides locked on 53 points and some few matches to close the season. It’s been predicted that the winner of this game, will win the league therefore heightening the tensions around it.

Ongoing discussions on media platforms have mostly centered on the referees to be appointed for the game, with many connoisseurs suggesting to the Ghana FA to import foreign referees to take charge of the encounter.

These calls are fuelled by the unsatisfactory performance of referees in the Ghana Premier League and the supposed attachment most of them have to some.

Reacting to this, Referee Joe Debrah has shot down calls for foreign referees claiming the act will be a lack of trust in the local breed and smack of disrespect.

He disclosed this during an interview with Silver FM in Kumasi.

“Bringing a foreign referee to officiate the Kotoko-hearts game is a total disrespect to all the local referees”, Joe Debrah asserted.

“If it happens so, then you have to bring in foreign referees to officiate the rest of the matches for you don’t have trust in Ghanaian referees,” he added.

The Ghana FA has yet to make its stance clear but rumors going round indicate the country’s football body is open to importing referees for the game.