World Cup 2010: Ghana make Ayew yellow card appeal

Ghana will appeal against the decision to show influential midfielder Andre Ayew the yellow card during Saturday’s 2-1 win over the United States at the World Cup, Ghanasoccernet can exclusively reveal.

The booking, which is Ayew’s second of the tournament, will rule him out of the quarter final clash with Uruguay on Friday.

The youngster was booked by referee Viktor Kassai of Hungary for a tackle on American striker Jose Altidore but television replays showed that he did not clip the player from behind.

But Ghana Football Association (GFA) boss Kwesi Nyantakyi says they want Fifa to rescind the decision because the referee got it wrong.

“We are going to Johannesburg where Fifa has its tournament headquarters to appeal the decision to show Ayew the yellow card,” Nyantakyi told Ghanasoccernet.com exclusively.

“We have noted that the decision taken by the referee was a hasty and unfair one and this will be the basis for our appeal.

“With the evidence we have from television replays we are confident that we will be successful with the appeal.”

Ayew’s absence will be a massive blow for the Black Stars as he is one of the key players for the team in the tournament in South Africa.

The son of legend Abedi Pele says he is delighted that the Ghana Football Association have decided to take up the booking with Fifa.

“I am happy that the Ghana FA chiefs want to pursue the booking with Fifa because it is the right thing to do,” Ayew told Ghanasoccernet exclusively.

“As you can see I didn’t injure the player or go with an intention to injure him so I will be very happy if Fifa looks into it.

“I will be very happy if I am available to help my country Ghana and Africa progress because the quarter final is a crucial stage of the World Cup.”

Ayew incurred the one-match suspension as a result of a stoppage time yellow card, shown after his feet entangled Jozy Altidore, sending the US forward to ground as he moved up-the-field with the ball.

Ghana will definitely miss defender Jonathan Mensah for the game against Uruguay as he was also given his booking of the tournament during the game against the United States.

The Ghana FA will not appeal that decision.

The Black Stars have joined Cameroon and Senegal at the only African countries to have reached the quarter finals of the World Cup.