ACTUALITE |
06.03.2002
Referees under fire
Cameroon`s football federation (Fecafoot) have punished seven league referees for incompetence.
Augustine Ebot, who doubles as an international referee, was suspended for three months.
Ebot wrongly stated on a match form that Racing Bafoussam beat Cintra Yaounde 2-0 in a week three league match, even though the reverse was the case.
But internal wranglings within Fecafoot have put questions marks on the validity of the punishment meted out to Ebot by the disciplinary committee.
Laurent Pettcha, chairman of Fecafoot`s referees commission, says that his committee is the only one authorised to invoke sanctions.
Pettcha`s committee suspended six referees for wrong interpretation of the rules and poor physical conditioning.
But he says that Ebot`s suspension is invalid. "Only my committee has the powers to punish them (referees)."
"Consequently, I will not respect the decision that suspends Augustine Ebot for three months", Pettcha said.
Members of the disciplinary committee base their decision to suspend Ebot on the FA rules, which supposedly gives them authority to handle such matters.
Official pressure
Michel Kaham, technical director of Union Douala, says both committees should collaborate, rather than fight each other.
"I find no problem with the action of both committees.
They should work together. My only worry is that they could be putting too much pressure on the referees", he said.
But Bertrand Mendouga, chairman of division one newcomers, Asmy 1 Yaounde, says football in Cameroon is steeped in corruption.
"They (Fecafoot) know the good and bad referees. But it permanently assign matches to the bad ones".
Pettcha acknowledges that corruption amongst referees exists, but insists it is hard to catch the culprits.
"It is difficult to get proof. When we get it, all parties involved are punished. Not just the referee."
"But I will not accept that the referee should carry the cross alone".
"Club officials who complain heavily about corruption are probably involved in bribing referees themselves".
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Hits: 1 | Source:BBC | |
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