The Liberia Football Association has suspended for two months Referee Koffa J. Doe for unethical behavior and handed a Letter of warning to FIFA Assistant Referee Johnson Gbartea.
According to the Liberia Football Association (LFA), Referee Koffa Doe was assigned to referee a First Division League match at the Nancy B. Doe Stadium in Kakata, Margibi County on Sunday, September 22, 2018 but arrived at the match venue very late when the first half of the game had already ended.
The LFA in a statement said after his late arrival, Referee Doe insisted that he be allowed to referee the 2nd half of the match while Mr. Johnson Gbartea who was the most senior Referee (FIFA Assistant Referee) sat by and allowed Doe to handle the 2nd half in complete violation of the laws of the game.
The LFA in its communication to Referee Gbartea said as a senior referee his action not to take charge of the situation was completely unacceptable and ran contrary to professional standards.
The communication to the two referees quotes Referee Director Stanley Konah as saying, “Instead of playing the role of the Reserve Referee, you insisted on refereeing the second half of the match. Your action to have refereed the second half was completely unacceptable and unprofessional”.
The decision to suspend Referee Doe with immediate effect for 2 months and warned Assistant Referee Gbartea followed an investigation by the Referee Committee of the Liberia Football Association.
The incident occurred doing the Watanga FC versus Jubilee FC league match at the Nancy B. Doe Stadium in Kakata City.
