By Desmond Tunde Coker
The National Sport Authority and the Ministry of Sports have condemned the persistent beating of female referees in the ongoing Women’s Premier League in Sierra Leone and have promised in a press release issued on Monday, February 18th, 2023 to develop stringent policy that will protect referees in Sierra Leone.
This statement came after another female referee was beaten during the match between Patricia Umu FC and the Sierra Leone Police Female Football Team in Kambia.
Florence Yata Lebbie became the latest victim of male-perpetrated violence against female football referees in Sierra Leone as she was beaten mercilessly during the match between Patricia Umu FC and the Sierra Leone Police Female Football Team in Kambia.
Florence Lebbie, who was executing her duties during that match issued a red card to the Police Team, and senior, heavily built men from the technical team of the Sierra Leone Police Female Football Club stopped the game in a violent manner, rushed at her, and assaulted her.
The National Sport Authority stated that “The National Sports Authority is seriously concerned with the violent attacks meted by some sports officials, fans, and supporters on female match officials in the ongoing Sierra Leone Female Premier League.
These consistent attacks on match officials are not only unacceptable by the NSA, the Ministry of Sports, and sports loving fans, but… have the potential to undermine women and girls’ protection in sports. Hence, it threatens female participation in the game and deprives them of realizing their potential.”
It could be recalled that the NSA, in an official letter signed by the Executive Director Dr. Kenneth Brima addressed to the SLFA last week, asked for a full investigation into the violent attack on the female referee in the match between FC Kallon and Mogbwemo Queens. Just after 10 days another referee has been beaten again. The Authority and the Ministry of Sports unequivocally condemned the consistent attacks on the referees, and the NSA called on the SLFA to expeditiously investigate them and take stringent actions against the culprits.
Meanwhile, the NSA and the Ministry, through the SLFA, promised to come up with policies that would address the violent attacks on match officials across all the match venues in the country.
The assault on Florence Yata Lebbie serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by women in male-dominated spaces and underscores the urgent need for systemic change to ensure their protection and empowerment.
In an interview with Premier news, both the Referee’s Manager at the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) and the president of the Western Area Football Referees Association stated that such action of beating referees dissuade other females from coming into the profession as their security is no longer guaranteed.