Referee Who Officiated Ghana-Portugal Match Expresses Regret
Ismail Elfath stated that he gave Christiano Ronaldo the penalty based on what he saw on the field at the time of the public outburst. He reiterated that it was a penalty and that the VAR would have informed him otherwise.
Boakyewaa Lawrencia 
Ismail Elfath, the referee who presided over the football game between Ghana and Portugal, has apologized for giving Christiano Ronaldo a contentious penalty.
In a football match between the Ghana Black Stars and Portugal on November 24, 2022, during the current 2022 FIFA World Cup, a contentious penalty was given to Portugal's captain Ronaldo.
The referee received harsh criticism from many Ghanaians for not using the VAR before issuing the penalty.
Sports journalist Saddick Adams, who called Ismail Elfath an excuse for a referee and urged FIFA to punish the referee, was one of those who dragged the official about.
The troubled referee was met in Qatar, according to sports journalist Saddick Adams, by Ghanaian Dr. Joe K, a former student of Prempeh College.
Ismail Elfath stated that he gave Christiano Ronaldo the penalty based on what he saw on the field at the time of the public outburst. He reiterated that it was a penalty and that the VAR would have informed him otherwise.
He nonetheless expressed surprise at the online criticism he received from social media users, adding that he had also taken note of the opposing views voiced by well-known referees and analysts.
Because he used to play football with Ghanaians, Ismail Elfath insisted that he loves Ghana and doesn't have anything against it as has been suggested.
