The Nation Newspaper

Tag: referee

  • Ibrahimovic: Referee was right to follow the rules

    Ibrahimovic: Referee was right to follow the rules

    Zlatan Ibrahimovic says the referee made the right decision to allow him to re-take the penalty which ensured a 1-1 draw between Lyon and Paris Saint-Germain.

    The Swede saw his second-half spot-kick saved by the excellent Anthony Lopes, only for referee Clement Turpin to order a re-take after judging the goalkeeper to have encroached from his line.

    Ibrahimovic despatched the effort at the second attempt to seal a point for the champions at Stade de Gerland and feels a draw was the least they deserved given the opportunities they created.

    “We had a lot of chances but only scored once,” he told reporters.

    “The penalty re-take? If you follow the rules, it makes sense.

    “It was a good game but we should have won. Lopes made some saves but we had some chances where we should have scored.”

    David Luiz believes Lopes’ efforts proved PSG were the stronger side and denied suggestions head coach Laurent Blanc gave the team the hairdryer treatment at half-time.

    “We played a strong team. The goalkeeper was their best player, which tells you something. He was very good,” said the defender.

    “If we play like that, we’ll get results.

    “Blanc angry at the break? I don’t think so. He was frustrated because we played better than Lyon but were 1-0 down.”

    Lyon chief Jean-Michel Aulas, meanwhile, was left furious with the performance of referee Turpin, especially as his side were denied a penalty shout of their own when the ball struck Blaise Matuidi’s hand in the area.

    “We had our chances and an outstanding goalkeeper, but it’s more to do with meeting regulations,” he told Canal Plus when asked about the result.

    “It [the Matuidi incident] was an indisputable penalty. I’m very annoyed.

    “When you tell me that it wasn’t a deserved penalty, I think you’re taking me for an idiot.”

  • …Get American referee

    …Get American referee

    Nigeria has been handed an unlucky referee for today’s FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup semi-final fixture against Korea DPR by football governing body,FIFA.

    Referee Domka Magaret from the United States of America will be at the centre when both countries battle for a spot in the final this evening.

    The referee was also in charge when the Falconets beat Republic of Korea 2-1 at the group stage in Canada.

    Domka, a high school Spanish teacher back in her native country, was in charge when Nigeria lost in the third place match of the 2012 FIFA Women’s World Cup to host team,Japan.

    The match ended 2-1 with Nigeria’s lone goal scored by Desire Oparanozie.In the absence of Oparanozie, Nigeria’s hopes will rest on Asisat Oshoala.

    A FIFA certified referee since 2007, Domka is among the three referees selected from the USA for Canada 2014.

    Honoured by America’s women soccer body, Domka would be assisted by Chavez Mayte of Mexico while the second assistant referee, Aspinall Natale is from England.

  • Referee denied us penalties-Obaseki

    El Kanemi media officer,  Anthony Obaseki  has rued  referee questionable decisions in his side’ 1-0 loss to Dolphins FC of Port-Harcourt in a Federation Cup round of 16 clash on Thursday.

    Obaseki who admitted that the goal scored by Dolphins’ Emem Eduok was a deserving one but still believe his side could have gotten something in the match had referee awarded the penalties for his team.

    The club’s spokesman said his side will focus on the league after their Federation Cup exit.

    “It was a good game and the goal was a good one. The center referee denied us two clear penalties. Our fans were not happy that referee overlooked those two penalties. We are going to the drawing board to focus on the league. We thanked our fans for the support,” Obaseki said.

  • FIFA replaces referee for Nigeria, Ethiopia tie

    FIFA replaces referee for Nigeria, Ethiopia tie

    World’s football governing body, FIFA has made slight changes in the referees that would handle the November 16 World Cup qualifier between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and Walya Antelopes of Ethiopia.

    FIFA replaced Rwandan official, Felicien Kabanda, earlier billed to serve as second assistant referee in the match with Marwa Range from Kenya.

    According to a statement released by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) deputy director of media,Demola Olajire, all other officials previously announced would retain their roles in the game billed for the U.J Esuene stadium,Calabar.

    Saturday’s game is the final qualifying game for the African champions, and they hold a 2-1 advantage from the first leg away in Ethiopia last month.

  • Refs suspend protest

    Refs suspend protest

    A boycott of Nigeria league matches planned for Sunday has been averted, officials have informed MTNFootball.com.

    Nigeria Referees Association (NRA) chairman Ahmed Maude told MTNFootball.com there was an issue, but they have resolved it with the league body.

    “There was an issue no doubt, but we have resolved it. We will officiate the league till the last game,” Maude told MTNFootball.com.

    “I must say kudos to my referees for doing wonderfully well this season,as you can see on the league table, no team is sure of winning the league or escaping relegation. That is why we told LMC our mind.”

    League Management Company (LMC) top official Salihu Abubakar told MTNFootball.com they have reached an agreement with the referees.

    “There was issue but we have talked about it and settled it, so no problems,” Abubakar disclosed.

    A referee who does not want his name in print revealed that they wanted to boycott the league because they are been neglected by LMC.

    “Actually we wanted to stop officiating from the next game to tell LMC our mind, we are the ones at the receiving end at match venues, being harassed, molested and beaten up by fans.And at the end LMC will ask the team to pay hefty fines with nothing getting to us the referees.”

  • Nigerian Envoy blasts referee over Elephants’ penalty

    Nigerian Envoy blasts referee over Elephants’ penalty

    Nigerian Ambassador to Cote D’Ivoire, Jack A. Bassey, has praised the resilience of the national team in the final leg, final round qualifier for the CHAN tournament, in Abidjan at the weekend, declaring that them team made his day by qualifying for the tournament.

    He however had harsh words for the Moroccan referee El Jafaari Nouredine, who officiated the game, declaring that the penalty he awarded against the Nigerian side early in the first half which resulted in the seconded goal was suspicious.

    Ambassador Bassey who described the Nigerian team as worthy African champions, also told the them that as a school boy footballer, he believes that the only way to always win a game is for the Nigerian team to always impose itself. “We must stop taking our games as home or away, we must go out there and show our skills which we have aplenty when suspect officiating is playing out and win, whether the referee likes it or not,” he declared.

    He thanked the Eagles for making his recent elevation to the position of an ambassador after 28 years of service as ground-breaking and predicted that the team will be the champions of the CHAN tournament in South Africa early next year.

    Leader of delegation and Nigerian Football Fedration (NFF) Vice President, Mike Umeh, thanked the envoy for his support and promised that the Eagles will not disappoint at the CHAN tournament next year in South Africa.

    “I can conveniently say here that we will repeat the 2013 feat in South Africa, where we won the African Cup of Nations and we hope his excellency, the Ambassador will come home to celebrate with us.”

  • Wovles assaulted referee Ogunyamodi — Akwa Utd

    Wovles assaulted referee Ogunyamodi — Akwa Utd

    Countary to reports in the media last week that centre referee Henry Ogunyamodi from Ondo State was physically assaulted by Akwa Utd fans in week 16 NPFL tie against Warri Wolvesat the Uyo Township Stadium, Media Officer of the side, Umen Ekoh said the alleged assault on the official was not carried out by their fans.

    Speaking with SportingLife from Uyo, Ekoh pointed out that he suspected some antics of the away side (Warri Wolves) in this assault.

    “No fan attacked the referee. This matter should be investigated. We were 2 – 0 up, how can we do a thing like this.”

    “We suspect it may have been master mind by some key officials of Warri Wolves. He was with us. We know him and what he can do,” Ekoh added.

    The game was said to have been abandoned after the first half by the centre referee when Akwa Utd’s fans vented their anger on him in the dressing room alleging he made some bad calls in the first half. Ekoh however called on the League Management Company (LMC) to look into the issue and allow justice to prevail.

  • Eguma sent off for insulting referee

    Eguma sent off for insulting referee

    Dolphins’ Manager Stanley Eguma was given the marching orders as Lobi Stars pipped the Port Harcourt side 1-0 through a stoppage time penalty converted by Terkaa Melai in a Week 16 NPFL match played at the Chief Akume Atongo Stadium, Katsina Ala Wednesday.

    Eguma was given a red card in the 81st minute of the encounter after he was alleged to have insulted the assistant referee Shina Sadiq from Sokoto State.

    The said game didn’t live up to the media hype given to it as both sides went into the recess goalless but it surged to life in the second half.

    Two penalty kicks were awarded the home team in the 68th and 90th minutes of the match.

    Chimaobi Nwaogu played the first spot kick into the waiting hands of Dolphins’ goalkeeper, Austin Brown but goaltender Melai made no mistake from the 12-yard spot when another chance was presented the home team after the centre referee Aminu Mammga from Zamfara adjudged that Lobi striker, Tony Okpotu was brought down in the vital area.

    Meanwhile, Lobi coach, Dominic Iorfa has dedicated the home win to God after his side laboured to a 1-0 win over Dolphins.

    The win improved Lobi’s points haul to 21 from 16 games while Dolphins are still on 24 points from same number of games. In Bauchi, Wikki Tourists have got their 6th win of the season after they defeated Kwara United 2-1.

    Wikki got the curtain raiser in the 45th minute through Ibrahim Shaibu but Kwara United’s Kabiru Sanusi got the Afonja Warriors’ equaliser in the 48th minute. The tourists however got the match winner from the penalty spot in the 54th minute through Shakil Bolaji.

    Wikki Tourists are now on 20 points from 16 games

  • NIGERIA VS ZAMBIA REFEREE: CAF expels Gehad

    NIGERIA VS ZAMBIA REFEREE: CAF expels Gehad

    Sequel to the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF)’s threat of protesting against the biased officiating of the center referee that officiated the Nigeria versus Zambia match in Mboembela, Nelspruit on Friday, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Committee on Referees has sent packing Egyptian referee, Grisha Gehad, who was in charge of the match.

    The Super Eagles versus defending Champions Chipolopolo match ended in a 1-1 draw, but the equalizing goal for the Southern Africans was the result of a questionable spot kick call by the referee Gehad, who replays showed, had wrongly adjudged SS Lazio of Italy midfielder Ogenyi Onazi as having held the arms of a goal-bound Zambian attacker in the 83rd minute of the game.

    A very competent source close to CAF told SportingLife under condition of anonymity that the referee has been sent back to his home country, Egypt.

    “The center referee that officiated the Nigeria versus Zambia second group match that ended in a 1-1 score draw has been sent packing.

    “The Egyptian referee, Grisha Gehad, who was in charge of the match between Nigeria and Zambia has been sent packing. Ghead, who was in charge of the match between Nigeria and Zambia has been sent packing. He was sent home because of his mishandling of the match”, the source told SportingLife.

    “The penalty call by the referee was wrong. If there was a foul, it was definitely outside the 18-yard box and not a penalty. Referees are not allowed to re-write the rules of the game”, a top CAF executive member was quoted as saying by the source.

  • Clattenburg is a referee who loves the spotlight

    Clattenburg is a referee who loves the spotlight

    As a top-class FIFA and Barclays Premier League referee, Mark Clattenburg is no stranger to controversy.

    He is one of the new breed of celebrity officials, always happy to be the centre of attention in a world of glitz and glamour.

    Even as he was warming up at Stamford Bridge before Sunday’s explosive game, he was aware that he was the centre of attention.

    The deliberate pauses as he stopped by the touchline during the circuits he performed with his officials were impossible to ignore.

    On the pitch he is known for a chatty, matey style with the players that rubs them up the wrong way at times. His style is not uncommon at the highest level but most players want someone to officiate with integrity and intelligence. They want and expect them to be able to keep up with the speed of the game and to make smart decisions.

    Before Sunday night he was marked out by FIFA as one of the top officials in world football.

    At the Olympics he was chosen to referee the final between Brazil and Mexico, a prestigious appointment in a game watched by a global audience.

    FIFA have been monitoring his progress and he is expected to be put forward to be the English representation at the 2014 World Cup.

    It would be a remarkable honour, but he is now fighting to save his reputation in the professional game.

    Clattenburg, 37, is regarded by the PGMO as one of their top officials, but he has been through some controversial moments in his career.

    In 2009 Mark Hughes and his coaching staff were furious with him over comments he allegedly made about Craig Bellamy when he played for Manchester City against Bolton.

    Bellamy had been his usual voluble self during the first half and was later sent off by Clattenburg for a second yellow card during a tempestuous Premier League clash.

    According to accounts at the time, the Durham-born referee asked the City bench: ‘How do you put up with Bellamy?’

    Hughes was incensed that an official would appear to jeopardise his impartiality by making comments about one of his players.

    The same year, Clattenburg was suspended by the PGMO after being accused of an off-the-field controversy with a former business partner.

    On the field he has been dogged by criticism of his handling of high-profile and important incidents.

    Four years earlier he was the referee who failed to spot Pedro Mendes’s ghost goal at Old Trafford for Tottenham.

    Manchester United keeper Roy Carroll was beaten by the Portuguese midfielder’s lob in 2005, but Clattenburg failed to see that the ball had crossed the line. It provoked widespread indignation and even derision.

    In 2007 he was involved in a bizarre incident at the Merseyside derby after appearing to take Steven Gerrard’s opinion into consideration when he booked Everton defender Tony Hibbert. Clattenburg appeared to upgrade a caution to a red card and later failed to send off Liverpool winger Dirk Kuyt for a waist-high lunge.

    At Old Trafford in 2010 he was the referee when Nani took advantage of a bizarre mistake by Spurs goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes to tap the ball into the empty net.