Richard Atta (left) and Kwame Opare Addo (right), Comunications Director, console Ayi after the game

 Two major errors defined the latest Ghana version of the ‘clasico’ as Accra Hearts of Oak lost 2-3 to their bitter rivals, Kumasi Asante Kotoko last Sunday.

One was a disastrous goalkeeping blunder by Hearts goalkeeper, Richard Ayi; resulting in an easy goal that is usually not seen in matches involving the two rivals.

Ayi clearly appeared confused over how to deal with a goal-bound strike and in the midst of that confusion, he parried the ball to the path of a lurking Kotoko player who had the easiest task of banging into a yawning net.

The second were blatant offside calls that were either disregarded by a 22-year-old inexperienced referee, Reg­inald Collins Amoah, appointed for such a big game. It may also happen that the referee with his Assistant genuinely missed those infringements.

On two occasions, Kotoko players appeared in offside positions in the build-up to the shot that Ayi failed to deal with.

Hearts, after the game, have attempt­ed to discredit the feat of the Porcupine Warriors, calling it a referee assisted win.

Comments like “Kotoko could never have beaten us but for the bad and in­consistent officiating” have been heard from the Phobian corridors.

A few fans have also not spared goal­keeper Ayi the ‘verbal’ rod.

But, perhaps, what seems momen­tarily lost on disappointed fans is that football is not just a game full of uncer­tainties. It is also error-strewn.

Even in more advanced leagues such as the English Premier League (EPL) La liga of Spain, Serie A of Italy, Liga Portugal and many others, such er­rors have become part and parcel of it.

Some of these errors, even with the aid of video assistants, cannot be ac­ceptable but can also not mean the end of the game.

Top coaches like Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta, Jurgen Klopp of Liverpool and a few others were handed sanctions for speaking their minds about poor officiating.

Pep Guardiola and his Manchester City charges were handed a strange decision in a game against Tottenham Hotspurs in the English topflight. That decision can be said to have denied City a goal and ultimately the three points.

But Guardiola in his post-match interview indicated that those decisions cannot be the reason why they dropped points because in the cause of play, sev­eral other chances were created which were missed due to players’ erroneous judgment.

Ayi and Ref. Amoah may have commit­ted blunders that denied or worsened the plight of the Phobians but that would be no justification for the backlash they have been subjected to.

What should be a matter of concern is the commentaries on the airwaves and various sports channels is the vilifica­tion and slanderous comments about the young Ghanaian match official and Richard Ayi.

Instead of the maligning and smearing campaign, fans should be minded about the fact that these are young and prom­ising sports men who have a lot to offer.

Depending on their mental fortitude, some of these disparaging comments can have a negative impact on them and plunge their respective careers into oblivion. It is the reason fans must for­give them and look ahead with the hope that the situation will strengthen them to become the best.