Defending Ghana Premier League champions, Accra Hearts of Oak have filed a protest against referee Ken Pady following a penalty call in favour of archrivals Asante Kotoko in the matchday 24 fixture at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi.

The Phobians in a communiqué on Tuesday described the center referee’s penalty call as ” unprofessional conduct.”

The complaint was lodged with the Ghana Football Association on Monday, April 11, 2022.

The Rainbow club lost by a lone goal courtesy a penalty strike from Mbella Etouga, Sunday at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium after referee Ken Paddy adjudged Hearts defensive midfielder, Abdul Nurudeen to have fouled Kotoko’s Fabio Gama in the box.

Hearts want the GFA’s Review Committee to “take a second look at the controversial penalty awarded against the club” by Referee Padi in their 1-0 loss to Kotoko and immediate action taken against him.

“Hearts is accordingly requesting the Review Committee to take immediate action to serve as a deterrent to all other future match officials who exercise such indiscretion against any club, especially at this critical period that we are all striving hard to bring back the love of the game”.

Kotoko are now eight points clear of the 2022/23 Ghana Premier League table and are course to win their first league title since 2014.

Hearts, on the other hand, hold the sixth spot.