By By: Contributing Writer
A fresh storm has hit Liberia’s flagship sporting event after documents circulating widely online claimed that Lofa County has been sanctioned and stripped of points in the ongoing 2025–2026 National County Sports Meet following a protest by Grand Cape Mount County.
The documents, reportedly from the Protest, Grievances and Disciplinary Committee of the National County Sports Meet, outline a detailed ruling that accuses Lofa County of grossly violating player eligibility rules by allegedly fielding more than the allowed three First Division players during their December 21, 2025 preliminary-round match against Grand Cape Mount County at the SKD Sports Complex.
However, even as the report gains traction and has been published by multiple media outlets, the Ministry of Youth and Sports has moved to distance itself from the controversy, describing the circulating documents as “unofficial” and insisting that no formally sanctioned decision has yet been released through its authorized communication channels.
What the leaked report claims
According to the widely shared document, Grand Cape Mount County protested immediately after the match, accusing Lofa County of fielding five First Division players, in direct violation of Article 11, Sub-section 13.13 of the National County Sports Meet Rules and Regulations.
The players named include:
- Darius Garmondeh (Watanga FC)
- Jeremiah Johnson (Wologizi FC)
- Francis Doe (Wologizi FC)
- Alexander Curtis (Watanga FC)
- Maxwell Keller (Wologizi FC)
The report further claims that two players—Jeremiah Johnson and Francis Doe—were improperly transferred from First Division side Wologizi FC to Third Division Howard FC after the official LFA transfer window had closed, and without completing the required Domestic Transfer Matching System (DTMS) and Connect System procedures.
Based on this, the committee allegedly ruled that the players remained First Division players and were therefore ineligible under the competition’s rules.
Protest timing dispute rejected
Lofa County’s legal team reportedly argued that Grand Cape Mount’s protest letter was filed outside the four-hour statutory deadline and should be dismissed. But the committee, citing both competition rules and Liberia’s Civil Procedure Law on extensions for holidays, allegedly rejected that argument, ruling that the delay was not material enough to invalidate the protest.
Alleged ruling: points reversed
The leaked conclusion states that the committee reversed the match result, awarding Grand Cape Mount County three points and two goals, effectively punishing Lofa County for what was described as a “gross violation” of player eligibility rules and a failure to conduct due diligence.
Ministry pushes back
Despite the explosive nature of the claims, the Ministry of Youth and Sports has cautioned the public, stressing that the documents being circulated are not officially released and should not be treated as final or binding. The Ministry’s position has raised fresh questions about how internal committee decisions are communicated, and why documents labeled “unofficial” appear to contain detailed findings, signatures, and dates.
Bigger questions linger
The unfolding saga has cast a shadow over the integrity of the National County Sports Meet, with fans and county delegations now demanding clarity. If the documents are unofficial, critics ask, how did they emerge with such specificity—and why has there been no immediate official clarification on the substance of the allegations?
Until the Ministry issues a formal ruling, the fate of Lofa County—and the credibility of the competition itself—remains hanging in the balance, as public trust continues to be tested by a controversy that refuses to stay off the pitch.
