The Liberia Football Association Referee Committee has suspended the entire team of referees that were assigned in Bomi County during the zonal stages of the 2021/2022 National County Sports meet football component.
Bomi County hosted defending Champions Lofa, Gbarpolu, and Grand Cape Mount Counties in group D. According to the Director of Referees Stanley Konah, the officials were suspended for administrative and Technical reasons from further participation in the National County Sports Meet.
Matthew B. Sloh was at the center of controversy by many football fans during the group stages in Bomi as he served as head of the delegate for the referees. Supporters of Gbarpolu County were disenchanted with the officiating of Matthew Sloh between Champions Lofa VS Gbarpolu when he served as central referee.
According to them, the penalty that was awarded to Lofa by him in that match was very fake. They complain that the fake penalty produced a 1:0 win for Lofa over Gbarpolu County which was the only goal scored by Lofa in three matches in the group.
Matthew Sloh, was again a center of controversy as Champions Lofa County bowed 1:0 to group D hosts, Bomi County in their second match in the group. At this point, the Authorities of Lofa County Sports Steering Committee complained the match officials to the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Chief organizer of the country’s premier sporting festival.
According to the Lofa team, the officials poorly handled the match between Lofa and group D hosts Bomi County which led to their County 1:0 painful defeat. Lofa in its communications stated that the referees denied two clear goals for them against Bomi, and called for a clearer understanding as to why their goals were denied.
Mr. Sloh actually served as the 3rd official of the match between Lofa and Bomi.
Here are the other four referees: GLEEKAN G.A. GARTEH, Bill F. KENNEDY, SARAH J. MANSTON, and ANTHONY M. MOMO II.
Bomi County finished top of the group with six points from three matches following a 3:2 defeat to Grand Cape Mount in her opening match and at the same time managed to produce two straight wins in their remaining matches against Lofa and Gbarpolu Counties with 1:0 each to book quarterfinals space.
Despite Bomi County quarter-finals stage confirmation following two wins, Gbarpolu County eliminated them by a protest. Lofa County Grand Children (Gbarpolu County), filed a protest against Bomi County for fielding illegal players which is totally against one of the rules governing the competition.
The Protest Committee after an independent investigation ruled that Gbarpolu County should be awarded two goals and three points for the match involving Bomi VS Gbarpolu. Following that ruling, Lofa County also filed a complaint against Bomi County for a similar situation, but things did not go their way despite all points being proven.
Many complaints and protests in this edition of the competition have left citizens both home and abroad disappointed, making the theme of this year’s county sports meet meaningless “commemorating 200 years of togetherness through sports”.
Reported by Sports Director: Sylvester Tamba
Email: stamba498@gmail.com
Phone number: +231776687195
Whatsapp number: +231776687195
