Asante Kotoko supporters have expressed their frustration with the officiating following the club’s 1-1 draw against FC Samartex in the Ghana Premier League week 3, with many fans questioning several decisions made during the encounter.
The match was officiated by referee Mohammed Misbaou, with Sulemana Salau Deen and James Osafo serving as assistant referees.
Following the final whistle, some Asante Kotoko supporters took to social media and other platforms to voice their dissatisfaction with the performance of the match officials. According to the supporters, they felt that several 50-50 challenges appeared to go against Kotoko throughout the game.
Some fans also claimed that the referee was too quick to threaten Kotoko players with yellow cards whenever there were physical challenges. They argued that the approach affected the way the players competed, particularly in a match where both teams were fighting for important points.
Another major talking point among the supporters was the penalty awarded against Kotoko. Some Kotoko fans strongly disagreed with the decision, insisting that, in their view, the incident did not warrant a penalty.
The frustration was summed up by one supporter who said: “We haven’t witnessed such kind of officiating before, but we don’t know if the referee was a thief.”
The comment reflects the level of anger among some supporters, although such accusations remain the personal opinions of the fans and are not established facts.
Despite their disappointment with the officiating, Kotoko supporters also found positives in the team’s performance. Many praised the players for the quality of football they displayed against Samartex and believe the team showed enough character to compete for the Ghana Premier League title.
The 1-1 result means Kotoko dropped points away from home, but supporters remain confident about the club’s chances over the course of the season. They believe there is still a long way to go in the campaign and that the players can continue improving with each match.
For many Kotoko fans, the message after the Samartex draw is clear: despite the frustration surrounding the officiating, they still have faith in the players and believe Asante Kotoko can recover from the dropped points and continue their push to win the Ghana Premier League title.
