Referees Unpaid Since After Week Six Of Premier League

Premier League referees have not been paid since officiating the sixth week matches of the 2011/2012 Glo Premier League.

The referees are still in the dark as the Ghana Football Association (GFA) is yet to relay any positive message relating to the settling of their entitlement as the League enters the 23 week.

A highly placed source confirmed to GNA Sports that the last time the referees received their dues was for the Week five matches played on November 6, 2011.

Since then the referees have waited in earnest for the payment of their allowances for the remaining 16-weeks of matches.

The League enters Week 23 this weekend and the match officials are expected to be at the centre of proceedings whilst the future of their entitlements hangs in the balance.

The source said there have been several meetings with the GFA towards clearing the backlog, but no positive news yet seems to emerge.

The Premier League match officials must, however, count themselves ‘lucky’ as their colleagues in the Division One remained emptyhanded since the commencement of the season in January 2012.

GNA Sports gathers that FIFA-badge officials are entitled to 240 Ghana cedis exclusive of transportation per match and 220 Ghana Cedis for Class One match officials.

The figure excludes accommodation in the event that the match officials travel to venues which require them to pass the night after the game due to the distance from their location.

Meanwhile, one of the nation’s most respected match officials whispered to GNA Sports that 'love' and interest for the sport remains their motivation, rather than financial benefits, since they have not been paid for months and continue to perform their duties.

Attempts by the GNA Sports to contact the GFA for any reaction proved fruitless.

Source: GNA