Liberia: Mark Paye Gets One Year Ban
Referee Moses Forkpah was carried off the pitch on a stretcher after being assaulted by Paye (Photo: T Kla Wesley).
– as Bea Mountain forfeits 3 points
Mark Paye’s action over the weekend in the Orange First Division league has landed him and his club Bea Mountain into trouble.
Forward Paye has been banned from all Liberia Football Association (LFA) activities for one year after shoving referee Moses Forkpah who showed him his second yellow due to his refusal to use the nearest exit point after he was substituted.
Referee Forkpah collapsed and was carried off the pitch on a stretcher by a medic after the incident. The match was discontinued less than ten minutes plus added time to play with Bea Mounting in a 2-1 lead.
Paye has been charged with violent conduct in violation of Chapters 8 & 21 of the Orange National League rules and regulations, the LFA said.
“Any player(s) or club official(s) who shall assault a match official shall be banned from all LFA activities for one (1) year and pay all expenses incurred by the match official or LFA official(s) for the first offense, two (2) years for the second offence, three (3) years for the third offence and banned from all football for any further occurrence,” Chapter 21, Article 2, Section 1.1 of the 2021/22 National League rules and regulations states.
According to the football association, Bea Mountain also forfeited the three match points with a minus 2 goal difference after the incident forced the match to be abandoned.
This is in accordance with Chapter 8, Article 5, Section 5.0 iii’ of the 2021-22 National League rules and regulations which states; “A club shall be punished with the forfeiture of a match when the player/club supporter(s) initiate an act responsible for the abrupt end of the match.”
Both Paye and his club have 72 hours to appeal the Association’s ruling. A win for Bea Mountain would have taken them to second place on the table, a single point behind leaders Freeport, with an outstanding game on hand against LPRC Oilers.
Unfortunately, things did not go their way as they dropped to 4th, one point behind Nimba Kwado. However, the “gold boys” still have a chance to return to the 3rd if they secure a win against the Oilers in the outstanding match.
