Member of Parliament for Akuapem North , Samuel Awuku is calling out poor officiating as a major contributor to hooliganism in Ghana football. He believes that questionable refereeing decisions often spark fan violence, citing examples from around the world where controversial calls have led to clashes.
“You cannot separate acts of vandalism, hooliganism, and fan riots from poor officiating. Across the world, whenever you see clashes among fans, a controversial refereeing decision is often at the heart of it.”- he told Oyerepa Sports
Awuku emphasized that football has become a business, and it’s time to move beyond just talking about addressing hooliganism. He’s urging law enforcement agencies to step up and ensure the law is enforced.
“Football today is not just about entertainment, it’s a business. These acts of hooliganism are despicable, and it’s time we move beyond lip service. Law enforcement agencies must step up and ensure the law is enforced.
This comes after a recent incident where a fan was fatally stabbed during a match between Nsoatreman and Asante Kotoko. The Ghana Premier League has been suspended since the incident on February 2, 2025.