Goodwill Sports Ambassador Ray Quarcoo
Goodwill Sports Ambassador Ray Quarcoo has reiterated the need for high-level officiating, particularly on the African continent.
The former President of the Ghana Boxing Federation (GBF) has campaigned for improved officiating standards for decades, citing a noticeable decline in recent years, especially in boxing and football.
Quarcoo referenced the recently concluded Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) hosted in Morocco, where the performance of some referees sparked widespread debate, describing it as a classic example of the problem.
According to Quarcoo, several factors continue to place African officiating under intense scrutiny:
Repetition of basic errors: Mistakes such as poor foul recognition, inconsistent carding, and questionable use of VAR continue to recur across major tournaments.
Impact on players and fans: Players lose confidence in the fairness of competitions, while fans increasingly question the credibility of African football.
Global consequences: Poor officiating at the continental level undermines African teams’ ability to compete effectively at the World Cup and Olympic Games, where refereeing standards are much stricter.
The former Black Stars management committee member, speaking after the tournament in an interview, lamented the persistent challenges.
“You know I have been preaching about good officiating in all sporting disciplines for many years but we keep nursing the same mistakes by some referees,” he stated.
He expressed concern that despite repeated exposure to international competitions, some referees are failing to learn or improve.
Quarcoo has therefore called on CAF and FIFA to take firm action against errant officials to protect the reputation of African sports.
“The continent will be the loser in the end, especially on the world stage,” he warned.
He outlined several risks associated with declining officiating standards, including:
Loss of credibility for CAF tournaments;
Reduced fan trust and sponsorship interest and African teams being disadvantaged at global competitions.
To address these challenges, Quarcoo proposed the following measures:
Referee education: Continuous training and exposure to international best practices;
Accountability: Suspension or demotion of referees who repeatedly make critical errors;
Technology use: Standardised and transparent VAR protocols; and
Mentorship: Senior referees mentoring younger officials to instill discipline and consistency.
“When our referees live up to expectations, our teams will not struggle when they reach the world stage,” he added.
Senegal, popularly known as the Teranga Lions, defeated host nation Morocco (the Atlas Lions) 1–0 in extra time to win the competition.
