Retired Ghanaian referee Thomas Nunoo has disclosed that he once turned down a bribe attempt during his active years as a match official in the Ghana Premier League. According to Nunoo, the incident involved football administrator Alhaji Karim Grusah, who allegedly attempted to influence his decisions ahead of a league match.
Speaking in a radio interview, Nunoo explained that the approach was made before an important fixture involving a club associated with Grusah. He stated that money was offered to sway his officiating, but he rejected the offer outright, insisting that integrity and fairness guided his career as a referee.
Nunoo further revealed that he reported the incident to the Ghana Premier League Board, which was overseeing league operations at the time. He stressed that referees have a responsibility to protect the credibility of the game and must not allow external pressure to influence their decisions on the pitch.
The retired official, who currently serves as a technical instructor for CAF and FIFA, said the incident did not affect his commitment to fair officiating. He noted that disagreements later arose after the match result did not favor the club involved, leading to public exchanges.
Nunoo used the opportunity to advise active referees to remain firm, reject all forms of inducement, and report any attempted interference to the Ghana Football Association. He emphasized that strong ethical standards are essential to restoring and maintaining trust in Ghanaian football officiating.
