Stanley Konah, Jr., a FIFA-badged referee, has been suspended by the Liberia Football Association (LFA) from all football-related activities for one month, according to a release from the FA.
It came after Heaven Eleven on February 13 lodged a grievance against Konah, Jr.
On February 9, at the SKD Practice Pitch, in a crucial FA Cup knockout game involving cup holders LISCR FC and Heaven Eleven, Referee Konah, Jr. called off a post-match penalty before LISCR needed to take another penalty kick.
What might have caused the official’s decision?
It was an exciting game in which Heaven Eleven overcame a goal deficit to lead 2-1 before LISCR scored an equalizer to end the first half 2-2.
Heaven Eleven regained the lead after the second half restarted and held on to it until the end of regulation time plus an additional time when the first contentious incident occurred.
As LISCR launched its final attack of the match, second assistant referee Johnny Ducan waved his flag for a foul against the team, but after the ball had crossed the outside, Konah Jr called for a corner kick for LISCR.
The game’s final play, the contentious corner kick produced the equalizing goal, tying the score 3-3 after 90 minutes.
Heaven Eleven’s enraged supporters then barged onto the field before order reigned and the game could resume for the penalty kick.
Even after being reminded that LISCR still needed to take another penalty, referee Kornah Jr. stuck by his decision based on his own record and prematurely ended the penalties after Heaven Eleven had missed three of its four shots LISCR were ahead 2-1.
The tension among Heaven Eleven supporters increased, and security was forced to barricade the referee and run for cover with him.
After investigating, the referee committee concluded that Konah embarrassed the LFA by ending the game prematurely.
After being added to the list for the first time in 2022, referee Konah, Jr. retained his FIFA badge for 2023. He was one of two Liberians selected to officiate at the WAFU A U17 tournament in Mauritania, which gave him his first experience officiating an international match.
