Ghanaââ¬â¢s Referees appointment committee chairman MNS Doe has taken swipe at criticism over the choice of Yaw Ametepey for Sundayââ¬â¢s super clash between Hearts and Kotoko.
Kotoko have raised the red flag over the choice of the centre referee, kicking against his appointment with claims his neutrality cannot be guaranteed ahead of the crunch tie at the Accra sports stadium.
Officials of the Porcupine Warriors are accusing the refereeââ¬â¢s appointment committee of selecting a bias referee for their crucial game against their arch-rivals in a massive media attack.
There are fears such constant attacks could put undue pressure on the referee and raise the stakes too high with its own consequences.
But the refereesââ¬â¢ appointment chief, MNS Doe, is incensed with the criticism and has hit back at Kotoko, insisting they are a ââ¬Ëbunch of talkativesââ¬.
ââ¬ÅAre they saying that if a punishment is meted out to a referee it becomes the end of the road for him? Suspension is intended to reform a referee not to destroy him,â⬠he told Kumasi-based Nhyira FM
ââ¬ÅSo if somebody has been punished, does it mean he should not officiate again? If that is the wish of the clubs weââ¬â¢ll do that.
ââ¬ÅEverybody is complaining about the choice of a referee for their matches. Hearts also claim we select certain referees to ensure they go down.
ââ¬ÅWhich referees do they want? I donââ¬â¢t know! They(Kotoko) are talking too much. I donââ¬â¢t even know what they want."
Both clubs are mapping out a psychological strategy to outwit each other ahead of the must-win game on Sunday.
The two teams have endured a difficult campaign this term with Hearts flirting with relegation with only six games to end the season.