The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has demoted Ashantigold SC and Inter Allies FC to the Division Two League effective the 2022/23 league season.
The Disciplinary committee of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) took this decision after the clubs were found Guilty of Match Manipulation in their 2020/21 Ghana Premier League Matchday 34 game.
A fine of GHc100,000.00 was also imposed on Ashantigold SC in accordance with Article 6(1)(c) and Article 6(4) of the GFA Disciplinary Code 2019.
Meanwhile, officials of Ashantigold SC and Players who participated in the above-mentioned match have also been sanctioned by the Disciplinary Committee.
The President of Ashantigold SC, Dr. Kwaku Frimpong, was banned from taking part in any football-related activity for a period of 120 months in accordance with Article 34.5(d)(i) of the Ghana Premier League Regulations 2019. In addition, a fine of GHc100,000 was imposed on Dr. Kwaku Frimpong in accordance with Article 34.5(d)(ii) of the Ghana Premier League Regulations 2019.
Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer of Ashantigold SC, Emmanuel Frimpong, was also banned from taking part in any football-related activity for a period of 96 months in accordance with Article 34.5(d)(i) of the Ghana Premier League Regulations 2019. Emmanuel Frimpong was also slapped with a fine of GHc50,000 in accordance with Article 34.5(d)(ii) of the Ghana Premier League Regulations 2019.
The following players of Ashantigold SC were charged for breaching Article 34(5)(a) of the GFA Premier League Regulations: Stephen Owusu Banahene, Dacosta Ampem, Frank Akoto, Agyemang Isaac Opoku, Amos Kofi Nkrumah, Eric Esso, Seth Osei, Moses Kwame, and Solomon Afriyie.
These players of Ashantigold SC “are hereby banned for 24 months each in accordance with 34.5(d)(i) of the Ghana Premier League Regulations 2019”, a portion of the verdict read.
Inter Allies FC, which currently plays in the first division of the Ghana Premier League, was also fined GHc100,000.00 in accordance with Article 6(1)(c) and Article 6(4) of the GFA Disciplinary Code 2019.
Evidence of match manipulation
On 17th July 2021, Ashantigold SC played Inter Allies FC in the 2020/21 Ghana Premier League Matchday 34 game at the Obuasi Len Clay Stadium. After the match, there were several reports within the local and international football space that the match was fixed to fulfill a correct score of 5 goals to 1 in favor of Ashantigold SC. The match eventually ended in 7 goals to 0 against Inter Allies FC.
A video extract of the match circulated on various social media platforms showed a player of Inter Allies FC scoring two own goals and also showed a lackluster attitude of players on the field of play.
Sportradar, a Swiss based international company’s fraud detection system, a unique service that identifies betting related manipulation in sports globally for a number of leagues through its vast amounts of data, reported that there was strong pre-match betting and telltale signs of fraud on the said match.
The GFA Compliance & Integrity Office, together with the GFA Prosecutors, investigated the matter and in accordance with Article 34(5) of the GFA Premier League Regulations preferred charges against the two clubs and referred Ashantigold SC to the Disciplinary Committee.
Ashantigold SC was charged on three counts. On the first count, the Club was charged for a breach of Article 34(5)(a) of the Ghana Premier League Regulations (2019) for instigating, commanding, and counselling its players to play a fixed match or match of convenience to achieve a result in favor of Ashantigold SC.
According to the GFA, this is an act which the club knew or ought to have known at the time of engaging in it to be contrary to the Premier League Regulations of the Ghana Football Association.
On the second count, the Club was charged for a breach of Article 18(1) of the GFA Disciplinary Code (2019). That the President and Chief Executive Officer made several calls to one, Emmanuel Nii Amoah to assist the Club to manipulate the match against Inter Allies FC to achieve their desired results, an act which has brought the game of football into disrepute.
On Count Three, the Club was charged for a breach of Article 34(6)(d) of the GFA Premier League Regulations, (2019). “That both teams did act together with a common purpose to manipulate the match to achieve a desired result, an act which brought the game of football into disrepute”, the Committee sated in its verdict.
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