Referees Association of Ghana (RAG) boss Alex Quartey concedes complains over Referee Ottis Oppongââ¬â¢s ââ¬Ëbulging bellyââ¬â¢ has become a concern for the profession.
Oppongââ¬â¢s competence has been called into question after officiating in last weekendââ¬â¢s 1-1 draw between Hearts of Oak and King Faisal.
Critics have pointed to Oppongââ¬â¢s pot belly as one of the reasons for his alleged poor performance in the game played in Accra.
The [critics] claim the bulging belly hindered Oppongââ¬â¢s mobility on the day â⬓ leading to his alleged substandard performance.
This has raised issues of the quality of physical training handed Ghanaian referees who officiate in the top flight.
Quartey, a retired referee himself concedes Oppongââ¬â¢s physical status is not in best of shapes but defended the Cooper Test which is conducted by RAG.
ââ¬ÅHe passed the Cooper Test quite easily,â⬠Quartey told Metro FM.
ââ¬ÅMaybe after conducting the test he has not been training regularly, hence his bulging belly.
ââ¬ÅPeople are raising a lot of issues about it and therefore it is something we have to look at.ââ¬