Former Inter Allies defender Hashim Musah has slapped with 'only a six months' ban for his role in unraveling the match fixing scandal against AshantiGold.
The centre-back, who currently plays for Nigerien side Union Sportive de la Gendarmerie Nationale, has seen his 24-months ban reduced to only six months.
The decision to reduce the sanction was borne out of the role he played in helping the Ghana FA in investigating the messy match fixing scandal.
Musah has revealed in the most shocking manner that he deliberately scored TWO OWN GOALS to destroy the investment of bettors following the side's 7-0 defeat against Ashantigold on the final day of the Ghana Premier League in Obuasi last year.
The defender claims a betting syndicate infiltrated their camp and pegged their match at 5-1.
However, he climbed off the bench to score a deliberate two own goals to damage the match-fixing agenda being orchestrated by a betting syndicate.
While the defender has received some form of praise from some quarters for boldly destroying the bet, others believe his action has brought the game into disrepute.
"That the Hashim Musah is banned from taking part in any football-related activity for a period of 24 months," a GFA verdict reads.
"However, the Committee has mitigated the sanctions due to the role he played in unravelling the fixed match.
"His sanction is therefore reduced to a period of six months and warned not to take the law into his hands but has a duty to disclose any such occurring to the GFA through the Integrity Hotline."
His justification drew mixed reactions. While receiving praise for not condoning match-fixing, he has been criticized by others for deliberately putting the ball in his own net, leading to Ghana football being ridiculed on the global stage. Officials and players of both teams have taking their turns in assisting the police to investigate the shameful conduct with authorities relying heavily on the claims of the defender.
AshantiGold finished the season 9th hence are still a Ghana Premier League club, meanwhile, Inter Allies have been relegated.
In 2007, Nania FC, Okwahu United, Great Mariners FC and Tudu Mighty Jets were demoted to the fourth division after they were found guilty of match-fixing.
Nania and Mariners were level on points in their group and needed to win their final matches to qualify for the country's top league. Abedi Pele's Nania FC beat Okwahu United 31-0 while Great Mariners triumphed 28-0 over Mighty Jets in league games played earlier this year.