The Referees’ Association of Ghana (RAG) has rendered its verdict after weeks of investigation into video materials submitted by journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas whose anti-corruption works have been rocking the country’s football.
An alarming number of 61 officials were found ‘culpable for seriously breaching various portions of disciplinary code, code of the ethics and regulations of the football controlling bodies by their actions and inactions.’
Eight referees were handed life-time bans while 53 got 10-year suspensions each.
However, 14 were exonerated due to lack of evidence and will return to duty upon the resumption of the Ghana Premier League.
All football related activities in Ghana have been suspended since June when Anas premièred a documentary titled Number 12 across the country exposing malpractices in football circles.
Ghana FA president Kwesi Nyantakyi, who was one of those cut on camera taking bribe, quickly resigned from his post and is now facing a Fifa ban.
A Normalisation Committee has been put in place to run football and carry out reforms ahead of elections at the FA next year.