Referee Isaac Bassaw pleads for reconsideration of GFA ban

Referee Isaac Bassaw has asked the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to reconsider the ban placed on him for an error during a Division One League game.

On 23rd February, 2021, GFA announced a season long ban on Bassaw and A.F. Zakari (Assistant Referee) for disallowing a legitimate goal in a game involving Wassaman FC and Star Madrid.

Speaking on Joy FM last Saturday, Bassaw pleaded with the GFA to either reverse the ban completely or reduce it to an appreciable level.

“Unfortunately it has turned out that I have to be included in suffering from that penalty and so today I am not actually challenging the authority but I need to use this opportunity to plead to the authorities to reconsider their decision [on the ban],” he told Nathaniel Attoh.

“I hope they can reverse the decision or at least reduce the sanction placed on me. When you watch the full video, I awarded the goal but I had to respect the view of my assistant referee since he gave reasons to why he flagged for that very decision [disallowing the goal].”

“Unfortunately my grandmother passed on [the day GFA gave their verdict] and I was making funeral arrangements. When I had the time, I informed [the authorities] with a formal letter that I had acknowledged their verdict on a number of platforms but requested humbly that they reconsider the decision,” he added.

“I told them to go through the video again from the time that I awarded the goal to the time I rescinded the decision. If they are still insistent on maintaining the sanction, I won’t have any problem. I am not challenging them. I am only appealing to them to reconsider the decision. I never had any bad intentions. I was only cooperating with my assistant referee.”

“I have learnt a lot and after certain consultations, I have learned a lot from what happened that is why I am not challenging the FA but I am only pleading with them. I am only begging them to help me in their own wisdom. I am pleading with them to reduce the sanction or strike it out,” he concluded.

Another referee, Eric Owusu, was reported to the FA on his officiating during a Premier League game between Eleven Wonders and Bechem United but was acquitted after a review was conducted.

Source: Joy Sports