East End Lions Football Club has officially lodged a complaint with the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) Referees Committee against Referee Rashid M. Conteh, citing biased and substandard officiating during their recent match against Bo Rangers.
A release posted on the club’s official Facebook page mentioned that the match, held on 15th February, 2025, at the Southern Arena, saw a series of controversial decisions that, according to East End Lions FC, unfairly favored the home team, Bo Rangers.
Among the key grievances is a contentious penalty awarded to Bo Rangers immediately after halftime, despite the absence of a clear foul. Additionally, a strong penalty appeal from East End Lions FC was ignored by the referee, despite apparent contact and protests from players and spectators.
East End Lions highlighted a pattern of questionable officiating by Referee Conteh in past matches involving East End Lions FC, particularly against Bo Rangers. A similar situation occurred on 27th May, 2023, at the same venue, where the referee’s decisions were widely disputed. This recurring trend raises concerns about his impartiality and consistency in officiating.
To support its claims, the club said they have submitted video evidence and detailed reports to the SLFA Referees Committee. East End Lions demanded a comprehensive review of the match footage, an assessment of the referee’s decisions, and an independent investigation into his conduct in previous matches where similar concerns have been raised.
