October 8, 2017//-The Ghana Football Association (GFA), has said that it has formally lodged a protest at FIFA over a disallowed goal during its crucial encounter with Uganda on Saturday.
It said it is asking FIFA for a replay “in order to serve the ends of justice without fear or favour.”
The linesman’s flag denied the Black Stars a late winner in the 93rd minute after Raphael Dwamena hit the back of the Ugandan net from a rebound off the goalkeeper.
The referee claimed the striker was in an offside position, although playbacks of the incident indicated otherwise.
Many Ghanaians have taken to social media to vent their anger over the decision, although the goal will not significantly affect the Black Stars’ chances of qualifying for the World Cup.
Black Stars skipper, Asamoah Gyan, said in a tweet that he was furious over the matter, and called on the GFA to protest the referee’s decision.
The GFA in its statement said, the action and several others “have left the GFA with no option than to ask FIFA to examine their performances.”
Read the GFA’s statement below:
Ghana FA lodges FIFA protests over referee in World Cup qualifier in Uganda
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has lodged a protest with FIFA over the performance of referee Daniel Bennett and his assistants Eldrick Adelaide and Steve Marie during the 2018 World Cup qualifier against Uganda on Saturday.
The GFA filed the protest to football’s world governing body, FIFA, immediately after the match at the Mandela National Stadium in Kampala. Mr Bennett and assistants denied Ghana a perfect goal in the 93rd minute with television replays showing that it was a perfect goal.
The referee also denied Ghana a penalty earlier in the second-half when Ghana midfielder Frank Acheampong was brought down in the box.
These and several other decisions by the match officials have left the GFA with no option than to ask FIFA to examine their performances.
The GFA respectfully asked FIFA to consider the possibility of a replay in order to serve the ends of justice without fear or favour.
‘Furious’ Asamoah Gyan demands protest over Black Stars goal snub
Black Stars Captain, Asamoah Gyan, has expressed his resentment towards referee Daniel Bennett’s decision to disallow a goal scored by the Black Stars in a crucial 2018 World Cup Qualifier game against Uganda.
Gyan, who says he is “furious” over the development is asking the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to formally protest the action of the referee.
The linesman’s flag denied the Black Stars a late winner in the 93rd minute after Raphael Dwamena hit the back of the Ugandan net from a rebound off the goalkeeper.
The referee claimed the striker was in an offside position, although replays of the incident indicated otherwise.
Many Ghanaians have taken to social media to vent their anger over the decision although the goal will not significantly affect the Black Stars’ chances of qualifying for the World Cup.
Asamoah Gyan, who could not feature in the game due to an injury tweeted hours after the game that “we have to protest..”
“How on earth can this goal be disallowed? @ghanafaofficial we have to protest.. this no “fa ma Nyame” matter… I’m so furious,” he tweeted.
Ghana was also denied what many thought was a clear penalty in the second-half of the game.
The game ended 0-0 leaving Ghana in 3rd place in the group with 6 points against Uganda’s 8 at 2nd position with Egypt leading the group with 12 points.
Ghanaians want referee banned, Uganda match replayed after poor calls
Ghana’s hopes of making a fourth consecutive World Cup suffered a blow when they were held to a goalless draw in Uganda.
The draw meant that Egpyt are now one win away from securing qualification to next year’s world cup, ending Ghana’s almost obligatory appearance at the World Cup.
However, it wasn’t the Black Stars’ poor performance that attracted the ire of Ghanaians, following the game, but that of South African referee Daniel Bennett and his assistants.
Ghana had arguably two legitimate goals disallowed in each half, including one at the very end of the game, and had a strong penalty appeal waved away by the referee.
Amartey hit the back of the net with a powerful header in the first half, but had the goal ruled out for offside although replays suggested that he was onside.
Acheampong was then bundled over by a defender in the box for a penalty after the break, but the referee pointed for a goal-kick instead.
And right at the end of the game, substitute Raphael Dwamena put the ball in the back of the net for what he thought was Ghana’s winner only to be denied by the linesman’s flag.
That decision sparked a ruckus on the pitch as the Ghanaian players and coaches sought an explanation after the final whistle, seconds later, which has since, inevitably, spilt over onto social media.
Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan called on the Ghana Football Association to protest the conduct of the officials in a tweet after the game.
Other Ghanaian football fans and football journalists across the continent also vented their spleen at the match officials, with some calling for the match to be replayed, as had been ruled in the game between Senegal and South Africa.
African Eye Report/Citifmonline
