“Is this the So-called our best referee? he’s very incompetent” – Ex-Kotoko Player Sarfo Gyamfi blasts Referee Daniel Laryea for bad officiating in Medeama vs Kotoko Ghana Premier League matchday 16 game
Former Asante Kotoko player Sarfo Gyamfi has sharply criticized referee Daniel Laryea for his officiating in the Ghana Premier League match between Medeama SC and Asante Kotoko on matchday 16.
Gyamfi, who played for Kotoko in the past, has labeled Laryea as “incompetent” and accused him of “cheating” the Porcupine Warriors.
The match, which saw Kotoko face Medeama at the new TnA Park in Tarkwa, ended in a dramatic 1-1 loss draw, but it was the manner in which the game was officiated that has dominated discussions.
Sarfo Gyamfi, who has been an outspoken critic of refereeing standards in the Ghana Premier League, wasted no time in expressing his displeasure with what he considered a poor performance from Laryea.
Referee Daniel Laryea, widely regarded as one of Ghana’s top referees, has come under intense scrutiny following the game. Gyamfi’s scathing comments are part of a wider backlash against Laryea’s controversial decisions during the match. From dubious penalty calls to disallowed goals, many fans and pundits have questioned the referee’s competency in managing what should have been a crucial match between two of the league’s most competitive sides.
Gyamfi, a former Kotoko player who has an intimate understanding of the club’s operations, was quick to assert that Laryea’s officiating played a decisive role in Kotoko’s unfortunate defeat. “Is this the so-called our best referee? He’s very incompetent,” Gyamfi fumed. “I watched the match, and I can confidently say that Kotoko was cheated. Referee Laryea’s decisions were appalling, and it was clear that he was not up to the task on that day.”
The central accusation from Gyamfi and many Kotoko supporters revolves around what they perceive as biased officiating. Sarfo Gyamfi pointed to specific instances where Laryea’s decisions appeared to favor the home side, Medeama. According to the former Kotoko player, Kotoko was denied what seemed to be a legitimate penalty, while Medeama was awarded a controversial spot kick. These decisions have ignited a firestorm of criticism, with many Kotoko fans believing that they were unjustly penalized.
Speaking on Kessben FM, the former player went further to claim that Laryea’s conduct during the match suggested that there was an intentional effort to tilt the game in favor of Medeama. “Referees are supposed to be neutral, but this referee was clearly on the side of the home team. He made questionable decisions that were in favor of Medeama, and it’s impossible to believe that those were honest mistakes,” Gyamfi added.
Kotoko supporters have expressed their anger, with many calling for a review of the referee’s decisions and an investigation into the manner in which the match was officiated. The club has a long history of battling perceived injustices in Ghanaian football, and this incident has further fueled concerns about the need for reforms in the country’s refereeing system.
In recent years, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has made efforts to improve the quality of refereeing by offering training programs.
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