Controversial ref Ogosi is not a MYSA employee, KPL insist

The Kenyan Premier League (KPL) Chairman, Jack Oguda has defended appointment of referees in the domestic top flight saying all the match officials are chosen on merit and assignment to matches is not based on tribal affiliation.

He was reacting to reports Dan Ogosi who was the centre-referee at the 2-2 draw between Mathare United and Western Stima on Sunday is an employee of the umbrella body of the former, Mathare Youth Sports Association (MYSA).

It also comes after a section of fans attending the double header at Nairobi’s Nyayo National Stadium bore placards accusing KPL of bias in appointment of match officials in a bid to favour certain teams.

Ogosi sparked controversy when he denied Stima what appeared to be a stone-wall penalty in the final minute of the clash against Mathare that if converted, would have secured the power-men a possible 3-1 victory.

As it turned, the Slum Boys scored the equaliser in the final minute of the five added on for a share of the spoils to hold on to second place on the log on 23 points, one below leaders Tusker FC.

“I’m not sure if he is a Mathare fan but all the referees in the KPL are professionals who are expected to adhere to the rules of the game and I’m sure majority of them are going a great job.

“Fifa rules say the referee decision is final and if he made a mistake there is a Referees’ Committee that will look at the issues. The issue of tribalism is not there at all the referees are appointed according to how they performed in their course and at no point has a referee been assigned a match based on tribal lines,” the CEO charged.

Referees’ Appointment Committee (RAC) chairman, Alfred Ndinya, echoed Oguda’s sentiments insisting Ogosi was not a MYSA employee as claimed.

‘’He doesn’t work at Mathare United. I have confirmed from the club and the say he is not their employee.

“The referee who officiated the AFC match against Posta Rangers was not a Luo. If someone wants to look at it from that angle then they are extremely wrong, we can’t bring tribalism in sports. Our referees are very professional and we can’t allow our lovely game to be divided along tribal lines,” Ndinya insisted.

Last week Disciplinary proceedings were   instituted against match officials in contentious KPL Top 8 clashes as the whip started to crack on incompetent refereeing in domestic football following the recent uproar.

Referees’ Committee suspended assistant John Olando for three weeks for suspect officiating in a game where holders Gor Mahia scraped through to the semis with a 1-0 victory over Ushuru FC.

The Committee also served center referee Antony Ogwayo with a warning letter for inconsistency in the application of the laws of the game in Ulinzi Stars quarterfinal against AFC Leopards.

Center referee, Raymond Onyango, was summoned  to explain his actions in  another Top 8 match that saw Muhoroni Youth take on Sofapaka with the former winning 3-1 to make the semis.