Selorm Yao Bless was withdrawn as centre referee for the FA Cup final after picking up an injury
Chairman of the MTN FA Cup Committee, Wilson Arthur, has shed light on the late officiating switch that saw Latif Adaari take charge of the 2025 FA Cup final between Asante Kotoko and Golden Kick, replacing originally appointed referee, Selorm Yao Bless.
Bless was initially appointed by the Ghana Football Association as the main referee for the crunch encounter. However, Adaari was rather seen officiating the game, causing some unrest amongst fans.
Speaking on Sporty FM on June 16, 2025, Arthur explained that Bless was forced to withdraw just before kickoff due to a muscle injury sustained during the warm-up session at the University of Ghana Stadium.
“We changed the referee for the MTN FA Cup final because the referee said he had a muscle pull. He realised that during the warm-up. That’s why we always have four referees so that others can step in when such situations happen,” Arthur clarified.
The switch was quietly executed minutes before the high-stakes clash, which ended in a 2-1 victory for Asante Kotoko, handing them their 10th FA Cup title and a return to continental football after years of drought.
Adaari’s officiating has not been without controversy. With the game tied at 1-1 late in the second half, he awarded the Porcupine Warriors a penalty that many fans and pundits have since questioned.
Kwame Opoku calmly slotted home from the spot to seal his brace and secure the trophy.
The decision sparked anger among supporters of Division One side Golden Kick, who felt hard done by.
Some fans hurled bottles onto the pitch, while Golden Kick players confronted the officials after the final whistle.
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