After the Anas Number 12 video of June 6 over seventy Ghanaian referees were caught in corrupt and dishonest circumstances forcing the Confederation of African Football and Referee Association of Ghana to act by issuing various bans and suspensions against the implicated referees.
Sunday’s Super Clash was the first biggest domestic game since the Anas expose.
Referee Maxwell Hanson, based in Tema, and one of the few stainless referees, was selected to take charge of Sunday’s huge friendly between Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko but looking at the performance of the center referee in particular, did Mr. Hanson prove a positive point on behalf of embattled Ghanaian referees?
Immediately after the game Hearts of Oak coach Seth Hoffman complained about officiating : ” Anytime my players went into tackles he (the referee Maxwell Hanson ) gave a foul against us and brandish yellow but when it was Kotoko players he hardly awarded us the infringement. It was bad.” Hoffman, who appeared bitter, complained after the game.
“They scored the first goal following a foul against Malik but the referee didn’t whistle and they scored from that incident.” Hoffman added.
However in relation to Hoffman’s outburst on the first Kotoko goal it appeared Prince Acquah legitimately won possession off the Hearts of Oak midfielder Malik Akowuah, lackadaisical on the ball. Difficult to side with the coach on this.
But the ultra-dangerous two-footed tackle of Augustine Sefah on Joseph Esso in the 13th minute eventually resulting in the forced substitution of the former Dwarfs forward, without a doubt, warranted a straight sending off but Hanson brandished yellow. Why?
There was also the harsh decision to book Robert Addo for the second time in the 57th minute when replays however showed the Phobian defender was rather fouled by Kotoko’s Yacouba.
Even though Asante Kotoko largely dominated their opponents and their victory cannot be subjected to any doubt , it is the decisions of the center referee regarding some key moments that make one feel Hearts of Oak coach Hoffman and a section of the club supporters are right to cry foul.
Do you think Maxwell Hanson, by his performance on Sunday, enhanced the image of Ghanaian referees or not?
