The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has confirmed that midfielder Sulley Muntari launched a scathing foul-mouthed verbal attack on coach Milovan Rajevac and some of his team-mates at the World Cup.
The Inter Milan player insulted the Serbian manager and some of the young Black Stars players in unprintable words after their World Cup game against Australia.
Rajevac called for Muntari to be expelled from the squad but an intervention by captain Stephen Appiah late Sunday night averted the expulsion of the unruly player, the GFA has confirmed in a statement.
“The Ghana Football Association confirms that player Sulley Muntari is still a member of the Black Stars team at the World Cup in South Africa,†the Ghana FA said in a statement.
“We wish to state that Sulley Muntari reacted angrily and in a manner that was offensive to the team’s Code of Conduct in the aftermath of Ghana’s game against Australia on the 19th June 2010 at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg.
“He was accordingly reprimanded for his behaviour with the player explaining that, his actions were borne out of his frustration by the team’s inability to record a win.
“Sulley has since recognised his misconduct and apologised to the Management, technical team and playing body of the Black Stars.
“The player has also reiterated his commitment and loyalty to the team and his readiness to play and give off his utmost best to the team.â€
Muntari returned to training with the team on Monday, an indication that Appiah’s intervention has averted the second sacking of Muntari from a national team camp.
The Inter Milan ace’s dressing room explosion on the coach occurred on Saturday after their 1-1 draw with Australia and he continued his tirade on the team bus by verbally attacking the younger players in the squad.
The player seems to be infuriated that his position in the starting line-up has been taken over by impressive youngster Andre Dede Ayew.
Muntari’s distruptive behaviour in camp erupted at the team’s pre-tournamant training camping where he refused to share a room with a team mate and also went AWOL to seek treatment for a minor injury which could have been dealt with by the team doctors which MTNFootball exclusively revealed.
The Ghana FA are seeking to smother the tension in camp in order not to wreck their campaign for a qualification last 16 qualification berth.
Ghana need a draw against Germany on Wednesday night to qualify to the first knock-out stage.
Muntari was axed from Ghana’s African Cup of Nations squad because of indiscipline and was expelled from Ghana’s U23 squad at the Athens Olympics for disobeying camping rules.
A similar incident hit the France World Cup squad as striker Nicholas Anelka was axed from the team which later resulted in player revolt.