by BRIAN ORUTA
Tuesday October 29, 2024
SFF president Ali Abdi Mohamed (in blue shirt)
The Somalia Football Federation (SFF) has dismissed recent claims of favouritism among referees.
The federation reiterated its commitment towards improving the standards of the sport in the country, to march internationally set standards.
In a statement, the SFF stressed the importance of using football as a platform to not only provide the youth with employment and a distraction to vices, but also as a unifying factor in the country which has long been plagued by security challenges.
“Certain individuals opposing the federation have been actively spreading false and baseless information regarding SFF activities, operations, and competitions. We want to assure the public that such claims have no foundation and are designed to distract from the SFF’s genuine efforts to advance Somali football,” it reads in part.
“The federation treats all regions in the country fairly."
The statement follows reports of a breakdown in relationship with a number of high-profile referees in the country Senior referees are reported to have stepped down from their roles as a result of the fallout with the federation.
The fallout comes amid claims of nepotism, corruption and favouritism, which the SFF has strongly denied.
It accused the referees who have severed ties with SFF of failing to pass the requisite fitness and endurance tests.
“One international referee failed to complete the fitness test required by the FIFA MA Course. This was the (his) third unsuccessful attempt, leading to his exclusion from the list of Somali international referees,” SFF statement explained in part.
“While he has since claimed to have resigned from his career, we stress that this decision aligns with FIFA standards. His exclusion is solely based on his inability to meet fitness requirements.”
Among those who reportedly stepped down include long serving referee Mohamed Nur Muhudin.
The federation further explained it had trained and awarded 52 coaches with Confederation of African Football (Caf C and Caf B) diploma license, in a move not only aimed at addressing the gap in coaching credentials.
It said this is also aimed at improving the standards of the sport in the country and providing job opportunities.
The SFF affirmed that plans are underway to improve the standards of the pitches at the Jowhar, Galkaio and WAMO stadiums, and extending the services to the people through the opening of offices in Jubaland, South-West, Hirshabelle, Galmudug and Puntland regions.