Ethiopian Premier League resumed Sunday after Ethiopian Match Officials and Commissioners Association called off a strike they had called following increased incidences of violence against their members in the line of duty.
The arbiters picked up their tools again after a meeting with the Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF) on 10th May where they negotiated demands they had put forward before returning to work.
The association called a 21-day strike after referee Eyasu Fente was attacked and injured during a league match pitting Defense Force and Welwalo ADU at Addis Ababa Stadium on 30th April.
In the ill-tempered match, Welwalo, who are battling relegation, went ahead through Ghanaian Richmond Adongo in the 22nd minute but, the hosts leveled through Minyelu Wondimu from the spot to tie the game 1-1 at the breather.
Defense grabbed a winner in 84th minute through Fitsum Gebremariam but the match did not proceed thereafter as Welwalo players confronted the ref – chasing him away from the pitch.
Welwalo’s goalkeeper Bereket Amare failed to collect the ball properly as it slipped through his hands and crossed the line into the net; however, the custodian retrieved it – claiming that it did not cross the line.
Ref Fente stood his ground in awarding the goal to Defense. Welwalo team leader Maru Gebretsadick came off the bench and tackled the ref to the group before punching him on his right eye.
After the incidence EFF called off league matches while the officials’ body called for a strike.
The association presented ten demands before they could resume duty including life insurance and medical cover for their members and increased security during matches.
EFF pledged to fulfill the demands including agreeing to compensate assaulted officials hence ending the impasse.
There were suggestions that match officials from neighboring countries like Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania be brought in to ensure the league continues.
Meanwhile the federation’s disciplinary panel has suspended six Welwalo players for six months each with Maru being handed a life time ban from all football related activities.
Maru will also face a lawsuit from ref Fente. The club on the other hand was handed a 250,000 Ethiopian Birr fine.
-Story by Firew Asrat.
