The Knight of the Whistle has seen his career ending abruptly following a terrible mistake he made in his match report last season
Fifa referee Reginald Lathbridge has been handed a lifetime ban by Ghana Football Association, AshesGyamera can confirm.
The former Kumasi-based made a crucial error in his match report involving Bechem United and Elmina Sharks on matchday seven of last leading to a legal tussle between Ghana FA and Great Olympics since the latter wanted to benefit from it.
Lathbridge booked Elmina Sharks striker Felix but surprisingly recorded it as Joseph Amoah, making the Bechem United winger ineligible in their next game against Bolga All Stars. The mistake led to Olympics placing two court injunctions on the start of the 2017-18 season since their protests were thrown out by the association’s disciplinary and appeals committees.
“The GFA Disciplinary Committee has taken the following decision at its sitting: Referee Reginald Lathbridge banned for life,” a GFA statement read.
“This Disciplinary Committee has decided to ban Referee Reginald Lathbridge is for life from taking part from all football related activities (administrative, sports and any other) at national and international levels having been found guilty of the charges brought against him by the GFA Prosecutor.
“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 statement added: “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 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.”
AshesGyamera understands that the referee has sworn to appeal the ruling.