Former FIFA referee Joseph Wellington believes it is acceptable for an assistant referee to enter the field of play during a match to aid the center referee in making a judgment.
Assistant Referee Theophilus Akugre ran onto the pitch moments before George Mfegue scored his second goal for Asante Kotoko in their 5-0 triumph against Bibiani Gold Stars over the weekend.
Akugre’s antics have sparked widespread condemnation in the athletic media, with several fans and enthusiasts calling his acts “inappropriate.”
Retired Referee Wellington, speaking to the GNA on the incident, claimed the Assistant Referee’s actions were in line with FIFA’s extra directive issued last year.
”There have been new developments so far as the laws of the game is concerned and that is why we have moved from the term Linesmen to Assistant Referees. Therefore, this should tell you the major role they play on the field of play,” he said.
Retired Referee Wellington further said that: ”Assistant Referees can come onto the field of play when the need arises especially when the Referee is far apart and may have doubts over decisions he should make and so the Assistant Referee’s action was not absurd but in line with the new instructions from FIFA.”
He also revealed that the Assistant Referee might use a flag technique to signal to the center referee the decision he had made when he first entered the field of play, which was in accordance with the new regulations.
”This new instruction is very useful when the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) is not in place, but when the Assistant Referees step onto the field regularly during a match, the fitness of the centre Referee must be questioned,” he added.
