KPL REFS IN TOUGH SPOT: Match officials continue to be accused of bias in their numerous decisions

Bandari players confront referee after they were denied a penalty kick against Posta Rangers during their GOtv Quarter-finals at City Stadium on Saturday 27/09/14.PHOTO:BONIFACE OKENDO.

With less than five matches before end of season, match referees are becoming a major focus thanks to their decisions during Kenyan Premier League (KPL) matches.
For instance, Nairobi City Stars coach Robinson Ofuwoku was a bitter man after his side went down 4-1 to champions Gor Mahia last Saturday at Nyayo Stadium.
Ofuwoku, in a post-match interview, accused center referee Amos Wanjala of having unfairly awarded their opponents two ‘dubious’ penalties during the match.
He said then: “The fault of the referee turned the game around. The whole world has seen we lost this match to the referee and not to Gor Mahia. We applaud him for the performance. Unless something is done about officiating standards, we will continue to suffer,” he said
Before Ofuwoku, Tusker’s assistant coach Leonard Odipo had also complained against officiating during their match against Gor Mahia three weeks ago.
Odipo said in an interview that the performance of the center referee during their match had all but indicated the winner of the 2014 title has been decided. Odipo was not so lucky as his team Tusker were fined Sh100,000 for the comments which were deemed offensive by KPL.
Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) coach Ken Kenyatta has added his voice to the complains by claiming his side has suffered unfairly at the hands of referees in the last six matches which they have lost.
“The officiating standards in the KPL have been wanting. Against Muhoroni last weekend, the referee made very bad calls against us. He awarded our opponents two dubious penalties and it cost us. My biggest beef with KPL is that referees are not punished, even when they make bad decisions. Unless something is done, this will not change,” he said.
Kenyan Premier League (KPL) Chief Executive Jack Oguda has, however, defended the league body over accusations that they have not taken action against errant referees.
“First of all, we have not received any official complaints about any particular referee and secondly, it is not within our powers to punish match officials. That responsibility belongs to Football Kenya Federation (FKF).”