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A major controversy has erupted in Sierra Leone’s football refereeing circles, with four FIFA-certified referees alleging that their badges were unjustly revoked by Referees Manager Franklyn Marah and the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) Referees Committee.
The referees—Ibrahim Bah, Alhajie Musa Kabia, Mohamed K. Koroma, and Precious A.E. Amara—claim the decision to remove them from the FIFA panel was politically motivated and rooted in their refusal to comply with unethical instructions. They accuse Marah of pressuring them to favor Wilberforce Strikers FC, a club reportedly linked to SLFA President Thomas Daddy Brima, in order to help the team avoid relegation during the league season.
“We were pressured by Franklyn Marah to officiate matches in favor of Wilberforce Strikers FC and against teams he deemed unsupportive of the SLFA President. Our refusal to comply is why our FIFA badges were taken from us,” one of the affected referees said.
Additionally, the referees allege that Marah demanded weekly monetary payments to secure their positions, a claim he has strongly denied.
Marah, responding to the accusations, stated that the referees’ removal was based on poor performance and their inability to meet FIFA’s international standards.
“Their removal has nothing to do with politics. It’s about fixing issues in our refereeing system to ensure Sierra Leone is represented by the best officials at the international level,” Marah said.
The decision to revoke the referees’ FIFA badges has sparked debates within Sierra Leone’s football community. Critics argue that the referees’ initial certification undermines Marah’s claims of poor performance. Others suggest the move is tied to internal SLFA politics, noting that the affected referees reportedly have links to Babadi Kamara, a key challenger to President Brima in the upcoming SLFA elections.
Football stakeholders are calling for transparency, with many urging FIFA to investigate the allegations.
“This issue raises serious questions about the integrity of Sierra Leone’s football administration,” a football analyst said. “The involvement of FIFA is crucial to uphold fairness and neutrality.”
The controversy has cast a shadow over the SLFA’s credibility and highlighted concerns about governance within Sierra Leone football. With calls for an independent investigation mounting, the incident underscores the need for transparency and adherence to international standards in football refereeing and administration.
