By S. Siapha Mulbah
The third-place match of the 2023/2024 National County Sports Meet in the football category, ended in disagreement, benefiting Nimba County as winner, due to Grand Bassa County’s refusal to end the match and walking away from the playing pitch.
The game ended in disagreement on 54 minutes of play after Nimba was awarded a penalty which was protested by Bassa. Josiah Cea was brought down in the box while launching an attack for Nimba County and referee Moses Forkpa immediately pointed to the spot.
The decision triggered Grand Bassa County and the team’s officials called the players to avoid completing the fixture despite their 1-0 lead gotten in the first half.
Theo Williams had scored earlier in the 17th minute to put Bassa ahead. The penalty, if taken and scored by Nimba, would have been an equalizer, with more than 30 minutes left to be played.
Bassa left the game unended at a momentary standstill for several minutes and decided to discontinue, creating a chance for Nimba that was down 1-0 to be awarded the game points and the third-place benefits.
Following the match’s disruption and wrongful termination masterminded by Bassa, the steering committee of the National County Sports Meet at the Ministry of Youth and Sports initiated a fine of US$2,500 on the county as penalty for their action.
According to a release issued by the committee, the team’s action violates Article 21.2 of the competition’s rules and regulation. The rule under this article states, “Any county which refuses to play or withdraw from a scheduled match without the consent of the organizing committee shall be fined 2,500 United States Dollars.”
The committee added that the action of Grand Bassa county team is an attempt to undermine the National County Sports Meet and bring the competition to public ridicule and complete embarrassment.
Further in the committee’s decision, it is reported that the team’s Manager, Ezekiel Johnson; Administrative Manager, Victoria Geeplay, and a member of the Bassa Sports Steering Committee, Philip Kangar, were involved in inciting and instigating the refusal and unprofessional behavior of the team.
Therefore, the trio were suspended from participating in activities organized by the Ministry of Youth and Sports for the next two years. The suspension will accordingly serve as a deterrent to those in charge of teams at the national event to behave in an orderly manner for sports development.
