Former Chief Executive Officer of Kumasi Asante Kotoko, Opoku Nti has called on the FA Cup committee to appoint a foreign referee for the final between Accra Hearts of Oak and the Porcupine Warriors.
Hearts and Kotoko will square off in the final of the FA Cup for the first time since 1990, after recording victories over Wa All Stars and Medeama respectively in the semifinals.
The Phoobians beat the Northern Blues 2-1 with Kumasi Asante Kotoko defeating Medeam by a lone goal in extra time courtesy a Saddick Adams strike.
With a lot at stake, the two club will eye the opportunity to play in Africa by winning the coveted trophy.
However, former Kotoko chief Opoku Nti insists the game should be handled by a foreign referee due to the controversies that comes with such games.
“I believe this match will stand out as one of the most difficult games between the two sides in recent time because of what’s at stake. Their positions on the league table indicate that the trophy has eluded them, hence they’ll put their all to carry the day especially knowing fully well that alone will provide the route to competing in Africa,” Nti told Happy FM.
“If I’m to offer any advice to the organizers, I’ll tell them to opt for a foreign referee because of how our referees performances have come under scrutiny recently. If a local referee officiates and commits a genuine blunder, it could lead to a serious problem, but should a foreign referee commit that same mistake, the supporters could forgive him because he has no affiliation with any of the two clubs. “
“If referees were hired to officiate our most difficult games in years back, why can’t we do same to avoid controversies?”
Meanwhile, the FA Cup committee has ruled out a possibility of hiring a foreign referee for the final.
The Black Starlets management committee member was in charge of the Porcupine Warriors when they beat Inter Allies in 2014 to win the competition.
The final has been slated for October 29th at the Tamale Sports Stadium.
By Lukman Evergreen Mumin