Young Apostles FC Request Referee Change for Crucial Match
With the relegation battle tightening in the Ghana Premier League, Young Apostles FC have taken an unusual but emphatic step off the pitch. The club has formally asked the Ghana Football Association to change the referee for their crucial matchday 32 showdown with Nations FC.
The request, sent to the GFA General Secretary, specifically calls for referee Juliet Appiah to be reassigned from the fixture scheduled for this weekend.
This is not a casual complaint. Young Apostles point directly to their matchday 29 game against Swedru All Blacks, where they say Appiah’s decisions sparked agitation among their supporters and heightened tension inside the stadium. That experience appears to have left a mark, and with survival on the line, the club is determined to avoid a repeat.
The club also highlighted the optics around the appointment. Nations FC are based in the Ashanti Region, the same region where Appiah is reportedly based, a detail Young Apostles believe could feed perceptions of bias at a time when every call carries weight.
They are careful, though, not to frame this as a personal attack on the referee. In their letter, Young Apostles stress that the move is not an accusation against Appiah but a proactive attempt to protect the integrity of the competition and ensure calm around a high-pressure game.
"Our sole interest is to ensure the sanctity of the competition and a serene, secure sporting environment for both teams, officials, and fans," the club stated.
In a season where one decision can tilt a club’s future, Young Apostles have made it clear: they want the talking to be about the football, not the referee.
