Former Berlin FC Chief Executive Officer Takyi Arhin has eulogized the performance of referee Samuel Sukah in Sunday’s Super Clash encounter at the Accra Sports Stadium.
The Accra-based referee has come under the microscope since his performance in the highly-anticipated game between Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko on Sunday, where he awarded an 83rd minute spot kick to the home side to win 1-0 to the dismay of the Porcupine Warriors teeming supporters.
“I watched the game at the comfort of my home and I will not begrudge the referee’s decision to award Hearts that penalty, because the manner in which Ahmed Adams threw himself on the ground to block the ball there’s no way the ball could not touch his hand,” Arhin told Accra-based Green FM.
He added, “I saw a video on social media which depicts that the ball hit the player’s back rather than the arm, but when you study the incident closely you could bear with me that the ball touched his arm therefore it was a clear penalty call by the referee.”
“In the spur of the moment, about 50% of referees will award that call. I don’t think the referee will intentionally award that penalty to favour Hearts. Had it been Europe this debate would have stopped by now because they use about six to ten cameras for just one game, so when it happens like it did on Sunday, replays will be shown from different angles for the fans to judge.”
“I’ve watched most of his games and I can say he’s one of the finest on the local scene, and I hate how the Kotoko supporters are taking this-how many penalties have they had in the league especially at home? They are also trying to implicate Dormaa-hene in this incident, which I think is bad and needless for our football,” he deduced.
Reuben Obodai