Top associate of Ghana FA President, Kurt Okraku, Albert Commey has detailed the number of fixed matches in the 2021/22 Ghana Premier League season.
Commey, who was a close confidant of Okraku during the 2019 Ghana FA President election, has levelled match-fixing allegations against several top clubs in the top-flight league including giants Hearts of Oak and former league winners Aduana Stars FC and Legon Cities.
In an interview with Sunyani-based Space FM, the former Hearts of Oak director of communications fingered 8 clubs for playing matches of convenience which is HIGHLY prohibited under the Ghana FA, CAF, and FIFA Regulations.
“The match between Bibiani Gold Stars and Ashgold was a fixed match, XI Wonders vs Aduana Stars was a fixed match, King Faisal vs Legon Cities was also a fixed match and lastly Hearts of Oak vs RTU was also a fixed match,” he told Space FM.
Article 34 5(a) of the Ghana Premier League Regulations state: Any GFA or club official, or club, or player or participant of a match who instigates, commands, counsels, solicits, procures, or in any manner purposely aids, facilitates, encourages or promotes the playing of a fixed match or a match of convenience involving his club, or involving other clubs, the result of which may in one way or the other, affect his club, commits a grievous offence and the offender shall be referred to the Disciplinary Committee for appropriate sanctions.
Article 34 5(d) further states: Whenever the GFA or its Disciplinary Committee is satisfied that a fixed match or match of convenience has taken place between two clubs, the Committee shall in addition to any other sanctions provided under these Regulations, impose any of or a combination of any of the following sanctions on any club, official, member or player involved in the arrangement, preparation and/or playing of the fixed match, or match of convenience.
Due to the nature and seriousness of the allegation, Commey is likely to be hauled before the Ghana FA Ethics Committee to provide proof for his comments which is likely to put the name of the game into disrepute.
Article 37 (7) of the Premier League regulations empowers the Disciplinary Committee of the Ghana FA to invite members for misconduct.
Misconduct shall mean/include threat of death or harm or improper or ungentlemanly and unsporting behaviour or any act that has the effect of putting the game of football into disrepute.
Clubs who have been accused by Commey could also report him to the GFA’s Ethics Committee should the football governing body fail to invite him to appear before its disciplinary body.
