20/08/2025
BREAKING: Gogrial East withdraws from BCPT over officiating disputes
Gogrial East County Football Team has officially withdrawn from the ongoing Bahr El Ghazal Counties’ Peace Tournament (BCPT) citing what it calls repeated cases of unfair officiating that have undermined the integrity of the game.
In a letter signed by Team President Deng Awar Mariak and addressed to BCPT President Joseph Majok Ayar, the club said the decision was reached after careful reflection on several controversial incidents.
Among the grievances listed were two denied penalties, one for Chan Kuot and another for forward Deng Cee alongside goals that the team insists were wrongly awarded against them due to offside calls in matches against Yirol West and in their most recent fixture.
GEFT stressed that the move was not an abandonment of football but a protest aimed at drawing attention to what they see as a serious problem.
“Our withdrawal is a call for reflection and reform to improve the standard of officiating,” President Mariak stated.
Gogrial East reaffirmed its long-term commitment to the game, saying it remains dedicated to unity, sportsmanship, and returning to future competitions where fairness is upheld.
The decision has sent shockwaves among fans and fellow participants, with many now waiting to see how BCPT organizers will respond.
