The state of match officiating in the country has stirred seasoned referee J. A. Amenya to react.
Match officiating in the country has generated arguments among the football populace in recent weeks, resulting in hooliganism at some centres.
And the experienced referee has pointed out inexperience in the face of ‘pressure to deliver’ on the part of many of the officials as the reason for the abysmal showing.
Consequently, he has suggested the engagement of psychologists for referees to improve on their performance, taking into account the stage the competition has reached.
The referee joins the growing list of students of the game who believe the GFA’s decision to promote new referees after the ‘Number 12’ Documentary with little experience as some of the reasons for poor officiating.
“At this point in time in the league, you need much experience to perform well. Inexperience (poor) is costing us a lot. In refereeing the moment you are cautious of your mistakes and you want to prevent another mistake, you lose control of the game,” he said on Happy FM.
“I will suggest that there should be a psychologist attached to the referees. At this time of the league the pressure is too much that if you don’t have that experience, the matches won’t go well for you.
“There is too much pressure on them and I will call on the GFA as a matter of urgency to psych them and also get some experienced referees to support them,” he added.
By Kofi Owusu Aduonum