Liberia: Margibi Seeks Suspension of Secretary General Over Controversial Player-Signing Exercise - FrontPageAfrica

09 Nov 2026, 05:01 · FrontPageAfrica

Liberia: Margibi Seeks Suspension of Secretary General Over Controversial Player-Signing Exercise

MARGIBI COUNTY– The Margibi County Sports Association (MSA) has recommended the immediate suspension of its Secretary General, Dargia Kollie, to Superintendent O. Jay Godfavor Morris, following controversy surrounding photographs appearing to show him participating in an official player-signing for the county ahead of the National County Sports Meet.

By Jaheim T. Tumu- jaheim.tumu@frontpageafricaonline.com

The association says the exercise was never authorized by its leadership, raising questions about how the photographs were taken and why an activity involving preselected players appeared to have been presented as an official signing ceremony.

In a press statement issued on November 6, 2026, MSA Chairman Christian Weah said the association had not approved any player signings, distancing its leadership from the activity captured in the photographs circulating on social media and other media platforms.

The association was emphatic in its position, declaring that ” No player has been officially signed to represent Margibi County.”

According to the MSA, the players appearing in the photographs were preselected by the county’s coaching staff during an ongoing justification exercise. Their photographs and information were intended for submission to the Chairman’s office for review, consideration and further administrative action.

However, the association said the Secretary General’s presence alongside the players had created an impression that an official signing exercise had taken place, despite the absence of approval from the leadership.

In a particularly strong statement, the MSA said: “The MSA leadership did not authorize any official player-signing ceremony, nor did it authorize the Secretary General or any other individual to undertake such an exercise.”

The association acknowledged that Kollie did not personally issue a public announcement confirming the signing of players; it maintained that his appearance in the photographs had raised serious administrative concerns.

“His appearance in photographs that have subsequently been circulated and interpreted by media outlets as evidence of official player signings has raised serious administrative concerns that require clarification and investigation,” the statement said.

The controversy has now reached the Office of the Superintendent of Margibi County, where the MSA has formally referred the matter and recommended Kollie’s immediate suspension pending a full-scale investigation.

The proposed suspension signals the seriousness with which the association views the incident, although no finding of misconduct against the Secretary General has been established.

The investigation is expected to determine the circumstances under which the photographs were taken, the nature of the activity, and whether established administrative procedures were violated.

The association also wants investigators to establish whether further disciplinary action against Kollie or anyone else involved would be justified.

The MSA stressed that the incident raises concerns about compliance with institutional authority and the administrative procedures governing the county’s sporting activities.

It warned that officials must operate within the established chain of command, stating that “all officials are expected to respect established administrative procedures, institutional authority, and the chain of command.”

The development comes as Margibi continues preparations for the National County Sports Meet, with the player-selection process still underway.

For the players involved in the justification exercise, the association has cautioned that their participation and preselection should not be interpreted as confirmation that they have secured places on the county team.

It assured them that the process remains ongoing and emphasized that “no player should consider himself officially signed until the appropriate approval process has been completed.”

The MSA has also called on media institutions and members of the public to refrain from presenting the photographs as confirmation of official player signings.

For now, the controversy leaves questions over the administration of Margibi’s preparations for the competition, particularly who has the authority to approve players and communicate official team decisions.

The outcome of the proposed investigation will determine whether the incident was a breakdown in communication or a violation of the association’s administrative procedures.

The association, meanwhile, says it remains committed to transparency, accountability and fairness in protecting the integrity of Margibi County’s preparations for the National County Sports Meet.

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Liberia: Margibi Seeks Suspension of Secretary General Over Controversial Player-Signing Exercise - FrontPageAfrica