Monrovia, Liberia – Basketball fans in Liberia have taken offense at the match officials’ refusal to officiate games. The officials failed to show up for the Mighty Barrolle vs. Invincible Eleven game on Friday, May 18, 2024, at the SKD Gymnasium in Paynesville, of which fans expressed grave worries.
Fans claimed that Article IX of the LBA Constitution expressly stipulates that match officials and referees will get ten percent of all game-day gate receipts.
They stated that a big issue is that, despite the existing agreement between the Liberia Basketball Association administration and the referees committee to return to the status quo ante and waive the 10% gate intake during games, the referees are still remaining absent.
“We are wondering why referees are going against the constitution of the LBA by not accepting the 10% but putting the authorities under pressure. We see their action as undermining because, the leadership is also challenged in terms of getting sponsorship. As lovers of basketball, we see their actions as ‘evil’ and only intended to destroy the talents of young people who want basketball in the country.”
When contacted, Liberian Basketball Chief referee, Abraham Rogers Freeman said though he cannot clearly state about an agreement in principle with the Authorities of LBA to accept 10% game intake but indicated that the among is very little to accommodate officials.
“With the current attendance of matches these days, 10% cannot accommodate the team of officials. The fans are no longer attending matches like in the past.”
Abraham Samukai, the president of the LBA, expressed excitement about raising match officials’ allowances after they get sponsorship.
”For the time being, we have complied with the LBA Constitution, which stipulates that we must take 10% of each matchday’s revenue until we obtain sponsorship and can start giving them a monthly stipend of $60 USD. This conclusion was made during our most recent discussion with them. We are now negotiating sponsorship deals with businesses. We’re all just making sacrifices to rebrand the game.”
Reported by: Sylvester Tamba
Contact: +231776687195
