The President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kwesi Ntantakyi, has offered a rare insight into Black Stars’ midfielder Sulley Muntari’s alleged assault of a Management Committee member, Moses Armah, at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Muntari was handed an indefinite suspension by the GFA for allegedly slapping Moses Armah – The President of Meadema Sporting – and damaging property at the Black Stars hotel in Brazil.
Appearing before the Dzamefe Commission of Enquiry, which is looking into Ghana’s World Cup, Nyantakyi confirmed the incident, which he said had left him shocked.
He told the Commission that the assault was triggered by an appearance fee row between players of the Black Stars and the Management Committee members.
He said tempers flared when the GFA met with some players of the team to decide how the $100,000 per head appearance fee would be paid.
According to Nyantakyi, Armah incurred Muntari’s wrath after he tried to reassure the players to take the GFA President’s word that the money would be paid as soon as possible.
He said: “Before we could say jack, he got up from his seat and released one blow. Then the second one was released. I was surprised. I have never seen this kind of thing before.â€
He said despite several appeals to Muntari to be patient, the midfielder went on to damage property belonging to the Meadema President and the hotel.
Nyantakyi said Sulley warned that Armah should leave the hotel for his own safety.
Muntari, the FA President added, honoured his threat by going down to the reception to get Moses Parker’s room number.
He said having secured the number, Muntari came charging past GFA official, Alhaji Lartey, and a Brazilian security official who were both standing guard by the door, before breaking into the room where Armah was.
According to him, Muntari hit GFA official Felix Ansong’s head against a wardrobe and moved in to face Moses Parker, whom he (Nyantakyi) was shielding with his body.
The GFA President said in a shocking move, Sulley aimed a bottle at Armah, which he ( Nyantakyi) intercepted, sustaining a cut from the glass in the process.
The FA President said Muntari also threatened to deal with Armah wherever he met him, prompting the FA to relocate him (Armah) to another hotel.
Nyantakyi said although he had been in football administration for many years, he had never seen a conduct as violent as what Muntari exhibited in Brazil.