For his continuous role as a director of Phar Rangers FC, the CEO of Asante Kotoko Nana Yaw Amponsah is in deep waters following a decision of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to slap the former with a five-year ban from all its competitions.
Following a misconduct charge in early June, the Disciplinary Committee of the GFA – in a ruling on Wednesday – found the Division One club guilty of withdrawing from all GFA-sanctioned activities and competitions without just cause in breach of Article 13 of the GFA’s Division One League regulations.
The Disciplinary Committee also banned the shareholders and directors of the club from all activities for a period of five years.
Per checks, the current Kotoko CEO, who was appointed in August 2020, still has his name – Yaw Amponsah – on the Management list and Registration documents as Director of Phar Rangers for the ongoing season.
Phar Rangers and its affected parties, if dissatisfied with the decision by the GFA, can appeal within three (3) days of being notified of the ruling.
Background
On June 7, 2021, Phar Rangers wrote a letter, signed by its Admin and Operations Manager, Hamid Saaka, to the GFA saying that it had decided to withdraw from all GFA competitions including the Division One League and the MTN FA Cup on the basis that it had gone defunct.
The GFA acknowledged receipt of the letter and then, proceeded to activate the appropriate measures based on what Phar Rangers had communicated.
Thus, on June 8, the GFA prepared a draft charge sheet and it was served on Phar Rangers on June 9.
However, the club wrote back to the GFA and said that it had rescinded its decision to withdraw from all competitions but the GFA went ahead with its case and said Phar Rangers had breached Article 13 (1-4) of the Division One League regulations and Article 7 (d) of the MTN FA Cup regulations.
The club pleaded not guilty to these charges and in its defence, insisted that it had written to the GFA to announce the u-turn in relation to the decision to withdraw from all GFA competitions.
The GFA then held proceedings to determine the case and it finally ruled that Phar Rangers had withdrawn without just cause and that was in breach of Article 13 (1) of the Division One League regulations.
DC Punishment
Having found Phar Rangers guilty of withdrawing from the 2020/21 Division League, the Committee hereby imposed the following punishment on the club and its Shareholders and Directors:
- Phar Rangers FC is hereby suspended from all competitions of the Ghana Football Association for a period of Five (5) years effective this 2020/2021 football season in accordance with Article 13(3) of the Division One League Regulations
- Phar Rangers FC shall only be allowed to join the Regional Football Association league upon the return after five seasons at the lowest league of the region.
- The Shareholders and Directors of Phar RangersFC on the records are hereby also banned from all football activities for a period of five (5) years effective from this 2020/2021 football season in accordance with Article 13(3) of the GFA Division One League Regulations.
- Having suspended Phar Rangers FC from all competitions of the GFA, the Disciplinary Committee hereby furthers orders that the players of the club shall apply and shall be granted free-agent status by the Players’ Status Committee of the GFA, free all encumbrances save the conditions attached to the transfers from their previous clubs to Phar Rangers FC.
- The Disciplinary Committee further orders that the suspension of Phar Rangers FC shall not relieve the club of its financial obligations which have already accrued towards the GFA or any member of the Association.
The GFA and its Committees are hereby ordered that any match which that Phar Rangers FC is scheduled to play shall be considered forfeited and accordingly three (3) points and three (3) goals shall be awarded in favour of the opposing club.
Full Ruling
