One name that Ghanaians hate to hear at the moment is that of referee Ismail Elfath. He was the referee who officiated the Ghana Black Stars’ group opener against Portugal.The American referee awarded what many describe as a contentious penalty to Portugal which was expertly converted by captain Cristiano Ronaldo.
Apparently, referee Ismail Elfath made bad decisions when it mattered the most and it also demoralized players of the Blackstars team.
Surprisingly, referee Ismail Elfath refused to go and check the VAR even when the players were urging him to go and check in order to reconsider his controversial decision.
After the clash between Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal vrs Adre Dede Ayew's Ghana, most journalists and spectators said for a fact that the penalty that was being awarded to Portugal was nothing of a foul and didn't deserve a penalty call. Fans especially Ghanaian fans were very unhappy with that decision and they were suggesting he ask the VAR for clarification before making the call.
Again, the third goal that was scored by leao had a little controversy too around it that if VAR had checked, it wouldn't have been a goal. It looked clearly an offside but the referee didn't mind consulting the VAR.
Many Ghanian were angry and pissed off by what the referee had Decided in the game and some said, it's because he's from USA and that Ghana always beat them in tournaments like this. Again some said it was a discriminative decision and that the referee was being racist.
This garnered serious controversy for days. Well, Ismail Elfath has apologized and expressed regret over the penalty he awarded to Portugal.
GhanaFeed reports, According to sports journalist Saddick Adams, Ghanaian Dr Joe K, formerly of Prempeh College caught up with the embattled referee in Qatar.
In their conversation, the referee insisted that based on what he saw at the moment, it was a penalty and he would have been told otherwise by VAR if it was not the case.
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