The Chairman of Mighty Blackpool FC, Rodney Michael, has strongly criticised the officiating in the 2026 Orange FA Cup final, describing it as the worst refereeing performance he has witnessed in four decades of involvement in football.
Michael’s remarks followed a controversial incident during Saturday’s final at the Southern Arena in Bo, where a goal scored by Mighty Blackpool was ruled out for offside by the assistant referee, a decision that sparked protests from the club’s supporters and officials.
Taking to his X account shortly after the match, Michael questioned the competence of the match officials, particularly the centre referee, who is a FIFA-accredited official.
“The officiating of the Orange FA Cup final is the worst I have seen in 40 years,” Michael wrote.
He further called on both FIFA and the Confederation of African Football to closely monitor refereeing standards in Sierra Leone, arguing that poor officiating continues to undermine the development and credibility of domestic football.
The Orange FA Cup final, contested between Mighty Blackpool FC and East End Lions FC, was one of the most anticipated fixtures on Sierra Leone’s football calendar. While Mighty Blackpool officials maintain that the disallowed goal could have altered the outcome of the match, the refereeing team has yet to publicly respond to the criticism. Likewise, the Sierra Leone Football Association has not issued an official statement regarding the disputed decision as of press time.
The match, a classic showdown between two of Sierra Leone’s historic clubs with a fierce Freetown rivalry, remained goalless at halftime amid a tense and tightly contested affair. The decisive breakthrough came in the second half when Idrissa Sesay emerged as the hero, netting the lone goal that proved enough to secure glory for the Lions.
Both teams advanced through challenging semifinals: East End Lions edged FC Kallon 1-0, while Mighty Blackpool overcame Abacha City FC 4-3 on penalties.
Beyond the silverware, the win qualifies East End Lions for the 2026-27 CAF Confederation Cup, providing a valuable opportunity to represent Sierra Leone on the African stage.
The Orange FA Cup, sponsored by Orange Sierra Leone in partnership with the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA), continues to be one of the country’s most anticipated domestic competitions.
However, the referee’s controversial decisions have reignited debate among football stakeholders over the standard of officiating in Sierra Leone, with many supporters on social media calling for greater accountability, enhanced referee training, and the introduction of modern officiating technologies to reduce controversial decisions in major matches.
