Monrovia, Liberia – Class-A referee Josephus Torjilor has been permanently banned by the Liberia Football Association from all LFA-sponsored events.
The Referee Committee’s report from the match between Nimba and Gedeh in the subsequent National County Meet is in line with Torjilor’s expulsion.
His subpar officiating generated serious losses and damages in addition to bringing the game and refereeing into disrepute.
Supporters who felt they were being treated unfairly by the referee and the tournament organizers reacted angrily to referee Torlijar’s ruling. For more than fifteen minutes, the stadium was filled with hushed tension as fans threw objects, some of which were directed towards the media tribunes, VIPs, and VVIPs, forcing journalists to flee the area.
The game saw Emmanuel Sieh’s header from within the area give the defending champions Nimba a 17th-minute lead. However, Nush Zohn equalized for Grand Gedeh from the penalty spot following a deliberate handball in the area that referee Josephus Torlijar first disregarded.
On Monday, April 29, the game was tied at 2-2 as it advanced to the semi-finals. Nimba used a switch move early in the game to put pressure on the Grand Gedians, but their opponents dominated them ruthlessly and had two opportunities to take the lead in the first seven minutes but were unable to do so.
It was the Grand Gedians who were most likely to score as the Nimbians let off the gas, and eventually, from a corner in the second half, a Grand Gedians player headed the ball into the back of Nimba’s net. But strangely, the goal was disallowed by the referee who signaled a foul.
Following contentious Nimba County’s semi-final advancement due to subpar officiating by referee Josephus Torlijar, Grand Gedians angrily stormed the pitch as violence broke out. After an additional half-hour, the National County Sports Meet quarterfinal between Nimba and Grand Gedeh was resumed, and as the players celebrated their 4-2 penalty win over their most formidable opponent, the supporters rushed onto the field.
The Grand Gedians were seen kicking and breaking the newly placed USD $30,000 dugout seats, for which Liberia was fined by CAF during the Weah-led administration. They also fight with security personals and were throwing harmful materials on the pitch. However, the police, who also had some of their men hurt on the field, managed to dissuade the demonstrating Grand Gedians.
