The National Circles Council (NCC) of Kumasi Asante Kotoko has questioned the Ghana Football Association (GFA) for appointing an Accra-based referee for Sunday's top of the table clash between Accra Hearts of Oak and Kumasi Asante Kotoko.

The Kotoko supporters PRO, Alex Osei Wusu, asked why Referee Daniel Laryea and one of the assistants, Kwasi Brobbey, who lives in Accra, were selected to officiate the game. 

“Hearts of Oak is in Accra and playing Kotoko from Kumasi, so we are worried why a referee from Accra has been chosen to officiate the game on Sunday,” he said on the Nhyira Power Sports show.

He told show host Richard Smith Donkor that the other assistant referee from Wenchi is a decision that should have been extended to picking the other referees from outside Accra. 

“We believe Daniel Laryea is very competent, but because he lives in Accra, there is the tendency for the Accra-based team to try and influence him, and he must guard against that,” Osei Wusu said 

However, Kobby Jones, representing the National Chapters Committee of Hearts of Oak, said they had no issues with the referees and where they were from.

“We are focused and won’t be distracted by these things. Where the referees are from is not of concern to us. If even he’s from Kumasi, all we call for is for him to act professionally,” Kobby Jones said 

When asked by the host if Kotoko fans were raising these issues because they were afraid of losing to Hearts of Oak, Mr Osei Wusu said, “we will and have never been afraid of Hearts of Oak, and I’m assuring Kotoko fans that we will beat Hearts on Sunday, but the right things must be done.” 

Both reps asked their fans to be law-abiding at the stadium on Sunday.

The fans who fail to access advanced tickets have also been admonished to stay home and watch the match on TV.