As Asante Kotoko SC are trying to cope with the novel coronavirus crises, they are also in dire moments as they face demotion from the Ghanaian top division if they fail to comply with a FIFA order.
With the Porcupine Warriors bent on being in financial difficulties since all football activities have been put on hold until further notice, they are to cough an amount of US$240,000 to Espérance de Tunis.
On Friday, 10 April 2020, the FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber charged Asante Kotoko for irregularities in their signing of Ghanaian forward Emmanuel Clottey in 2015.
The Ghana giants wrongly registered Clottey without the consent of the Tunisian side who at the time of the transfer had a running contract with the player.
Asante Kotoko have been ordered to pay the Tunisian club US$180,000 for the transfer of the player and an interest of US$45,000 as they failed to pay on time.
They would also pay the committee that sat on the case between the two sides over the transfer of the player US$15,000, bringing the total figure to US$240,000.
Asante Kotoko will be relegated to the lower division if they fail to respect the final decision of FIFA after 30 days of the ruling of the matter.
The demotion of the Ghanaian powerhouse will be disastrous for the Ghana Premier League.
First and foremost, the Ghana FA, the National Sports Authority and the Ghana Premier League clubs will have a drop in their revenue.
The Porcupine Warriors have the highest stadium attendance every season and that means they are the major contributors of match day revenue to the two institutions through deductions (Taxes and other fees).
Every club in the Ghana top-flight accrue their highest match day revenue when they host Asante Kotoko in the league.
The clubs will be losing all these revenues when the Kumasi giants and the most successful team in the premiership is relegated.
Also, the Ghana Premier League will have its standard dropped if Asante Kotoko are demoted from the top-flight (which will be unprecedented).
The Ghanaian elite division won't be having a Grade A or Category A fixture which will affect the standard.
The only Category A fixture in the Ghana Premier League is when Asante Kotoko take on their fiercest rivals Hearts of Oak which is why the league is highly rated in Africa and beyond.
Despite being rivals, the two clubs are the most successful in the league with 43 titles out of 57 editions between them as Asante Kotoko have 24 titles and Hearts of Oak with 19 titles.
Meetings between the two top sides are the most watched since the championship began in 1958.
Any other league fixture involving Asante Kotoko is rated Category B or Grade B which shows how powerful the Porcupine Warriors are in the Ghana league and other competitions.
Should the Porcupines be relegated, the Ghana Premier League won't be same as before as top rated fixtures will be absent.
Asante Kotoko should clear the debt to remain in Ghana league as they are obviously a major force in terms of producing revenue, stadium attendance and top liners every single season.