The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has decided to put the betPawa Premier League on hold.
The decision, according to the GFA, followed a Motion on Notice for Injunction filed yesterday, Wednesday, September 28, 2022 at the Human Rights High Court by Ashantigold SC and served on the GFA’s lawyers yesterday afternoon.
Following the receipt of the Motion, the Association decided to put the league on hold until the determination of a Motion on Notice for Injunction by the court on October 14, 2022.
The GFA disclosed in a statement that it has subsequently communicated this decision to all sponsors, partner and clubs.
“The Association wishes to urge all stakeholders – sponsors and partners and clubs who have invested in the league, players whose livelihood depends on the league, match officials, administrators, officials and supporters of the league and the clubs to remain calm.”
GFA
The Association assured the football fraternity that it will endeavour to seek redress for the prompt return of the Premier League and ensure that the calendar is not further disrupted in this world cup year.
The Premier League was scheduled to enter Match day 4 this weekend, however, due to the injunction, the matches will not come off as scheduled.
GFA suspends Ashantigold SC for dealing with banned officials
Meanwhile, the Executive Council of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) disclosed that it has unanimously decided to suspend AshantiGold Sporting Club with immediate effect under Article 17(1) of the GFA Statutes.
This decision was taken due to the club’s dealing with banned officials Kwaku Frimpong and Emmanuel Frimpong, which constitutes a serious violation of both GFA Statutes and the FIFA Statutes.
Kwaku Frimpong and Emmanuel Frimpong have been banned by the GFA Disciplinary Committee for 10 years and 8 years respectively for engaging in match manipulations.
The decisions were subsequently upheld by the GFA Appeals Committee. The two banned officials did not appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) as required by both the GFA Statutes and the FIFA Statutes and the time for filing such an appeal had long expired.
However, the GFA noted that AshantiGold SC continues to deal with and engage with the two banned officials in violation of Articles 9, 13 and 16 of the GFA Statutes and the relevant provisions of the FIFA Statutes.
It would be recalled that only 22 players have filed appeals and temporary measure (a stay of execution) at CAS, which have been granted by CAS.
The GFA has accordingly allowed the players to register and play in GFA and international competitions until the final determination of their cases by CAS.
The suspension of AshantiGold SC means the club shall lose all membership rights and that the club cannot play in any football competition, including but not limited to the Ashanti Regional Football Association Division One League.
In accordance with both the GFA Statutes and FIFA Statutes, the GFA, members of the GFA, clubs, players, referees and all participants in football shall not deal and engage in any football related activities (administrative, sporting, etc) with the suspended AshantiGold SC and/or the banned officials.
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