Accra Hearts of Oak midfielder, Mohammed Hussein has issued a public apology following his aggressive conduct towards referee Reginald Collins Amoah after his team’s 1–0 defeat to Asante Kotoko.
Mawuli Wayo’s equaliser was ruled out for offside by referee Reginald Collins Amoah, a decision that drew heavy criticisms from Hearts of Oak supporters at the stadium.
The decision did not sit well with Hussein, who was seen approaching the officiating officials at the final whistle.
EXPLAINER: Why VAR would have awarded Hearts of Oak’s goal against Kotoko
While police escorted the referees off the pitch, Hussein attempted attack the referee but was blocked by the security.
Hussein in a social media post explained that his actions were born out of frustration, as he felt the referee overlooked fouls committed against him during the match.
He apologised to his teammates, club officials, fans, the referees involved, and the Ghana Football Association (GFA) for his behaviour, which he admitted had brought the image of the league into disrepute.
Read the full statement on the apology as shared on Facebook below:
I wish to begin by expressing my deepest gratitude to the supporters of Accra Hearts of Oak, who turned up in their numbers to stand behind the team in our match against Kotoko. Your passion and loyalty mean everything to us, and I am painfully aware that my actions at the end of the game fell short of the respect you deserve.
With a heavy heart, I sincerely apologise to the Ghana Football Association (GFA), the referee, my teammates, our cherished supporters, and the wider football community. What happened after the final whistle was unacceptable, and I take full responsibility for my behaviour.
Throughout the game, I felt frustrated and believed I was being persistently fouled without protection from the referees. In that moment of emotion, I allowed frustration to cloud my judgment. Instead of showing restraint and respect, I reacted wrongly, and I regret it deeply. My actions do not reflect who I am as a person, nor the values I hold as a professional footballer.
To the referee involved, I am truly sorry for confronting you in the manner that I did. I respect the difficult role referees play in ensuring fairness, and I humbly ask for your forgiveness for my lapse in judgment. To the GFA, my club, my teammates, and our loyal fans, I promise to learn from this painful experience. I will work harder to remain calm under pressure, to honour the Phobia badge I love and wear, and to uphold the dignity of our beautiful game.
Once again, I offer my heartfelt apologies to everyone affected by my actions. I am committed to making amends and proving, through my conduct going forward, that I have learned from this mistake.
SB/JE
Read the post below:
SB/JE
Meanwhile, watch the feature about Swedru All Blacks’ journey from the Division One to the GPL below
