Ghana Football Association have banned referee Reginald Lathbridge for life from taking part in all football related activities at national and international levels. 

The decision comes after the Disciplinary Committee found Lathbridge guilty of submitting an inaccurate report on the league game between Bechem United and Elmina Sharks that led to the legal battle that disrupted the start of new season. 

A statement on FA's website read: ''Referee Reginald Lathbridge at his hearing at the Disciplinary Committee apologised to all stakeholders of the game and admitted the charge of failing to submit a complete and accurate Match Report to the GFA in the Matchday 7 of the 2016/2017 Ghana Premier League match played between Bechem United FC and Elmina Sharks FC at Bechem thereby bringing the game into disrepute.

''The Disciplinary Committee states that the importance of the Match Official's Reports in football cannot be overemphasised in view of Article 85 of the GFA Disciplinary Code which presumes that the Referee's Report is accurate and considered authoritative regarding matters on incidents that take place on the field of play and the far-reaching consequences any inaccuracy may lead to.

Referee Reginald Lathbridge's actions are held to have been in violation of Articles 22 and 35(7)(d) in the GFA General Regulations and other regulations in respect of this matter.''

The renowned official wrongfully recorded a booking for Bechem United's Joseph Amoah instead of Elmina Sharks Felix Addo, which made Amoah ineligible to feature against Hearts of Oak but the player did feature which renders him unqualified.

Great Olympics after they were relegated sort to take advantage of the mistake as they filed a petition against Bechem for ''fielding an illegible Amoah against Bolga All Stars in Matchday 8'' and when their petition was dismissed 'for want of jurisdiction' they filed two separate injunction applications at the court to delay new season.