BREAKING NEWS: FIFA to ban Ghana over government court case against GFA

Published on: 14 August 2018
BREAKING NEWS: FIFA to ban Ghana over government court case against GFA
FIFA

FIFA has warned the government to withdraw the court action seeking to dissolve the Ghana Football Association by Monday, 27 August, 2018 or face its wrath.

World football governing body says it will ban the country from all football activities that would affect next month's Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Kenya if the Attorney General does not discontinue its action of seeking to dissolve the Ghana Football Association.

Football in the country came to a halt in June after government applied to an Accra High Court to dissolve the local football governing body claiming the entire football structure was engage in corruption following the Anas investigation without justifying it claims.

The court action is deemed to be government interference in the sport as the laws of FIFA prohibit governments from interfering in the activities of football federations.

FIFA has now written its warning letter to the Sports Ministry citing various breaches of its statutes by government and that a ban will follow if the action is not reversed within two weeks.

"The Bureau considers that the petition introduced by the Attorney General to the High Court of Justice to Start the liquidation process of the GFA constitutes an undue interference in the affairs of the GFA in contravention of art. 14 par. 1 i) and art. 19 par. 1 of the FIFA Statutes," the FIFA letter to the Ministry of Youth and Sports on Monday.

"Under these circumstances, the Bureau based on art. 16 par. 1 of the FIFA Statutes decided on 11 August 2018 that if the petition to Start the liquidation process of the GFA is not withdrawn by Monday, 27 August 2018 at 12hOO (CET), the GFA will be suspended with immediate effect.

"The suspension would be Iifted only once the above-mentioned petition is withdrawn and FIFA is given written proof thereof.

"In accordance with art‘ 16 per, 3 of the FIFA Statutes, if the GFA were to be suspended, it may not exercise any of its membership rights (Cf. art. 13 of the FIFA Statutes)‘ Furthermore, other member associations could not entertain Sporting contact with the GFA."

If the authorities fail to comply with this latest directive, Ghana would be handed a worldwide ban, meaning no club or national team can compete in international competitions.

The action will also prevent Ghana from hosting of the Africa Women's Championship which is scheduled to be held in the country from November.

The Attorney General headed following an explosive revelation by investigative journalist Anas Armeyaw where some officials and referees were caught on tape taking bribes.

The exposé led to the resignation of Ghana FA president Kwesi Nyantakyi who was captured on tape receiving $65,000 'gift' to agree a sponsorship deal with supposed investors- something he is contesting in court claiming it was a refund of his expenses.

He resigned on Friday, June 8, after FIFA handed him a 90-day provisional ban from all footballing activities.

Over 80 referees and football officials were involved in the bribery scandal which has rocked the GFA.

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