Faisal appeal to GFA

Kumasi-based King Faisal has made a passionate appeal to the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to ensure that its appeal against a Disciplinary Committee ruling is heard before the FA goes to Congress this month.

The founder of Faisal, Alhaji Karim Gruzah, said the case was pending before the FA’s appellate body and it was only fair that the case be disposed of before Congress which ends football season and ushers in a new one.

Alhaji Gruzah told the Daily Graphic last Friday that the FA must ensure that the case before its Appeals Committee  — and all pending cases — run the full length as enshrined in the FA’s rules and regulations before Congress.

“Faisal is a law-abiding club so we expect the FA to also respect its own rules,” said the Faisal founder, who explained that the case has yet to be disposed of because of delays occasioned by the failure of the FA’s secretariat to furnish the club with record of proceedings in time to enable it to file an appeal.

Last month the FA’s Disciplinary Committee of the GFA threw out Faisal's petition against Aduana Stars for breaching some statutes of the Ghana Football Association (GFA).

Aduana were charged with violating Articles 34(1)(L) and 39(8)(b) of the Ghana Football Association General Regulations (GFA Regulations).

However, the disciplinary committee ruled that the petition had no merit after hearing the matter.

Faisal sought to have Aduana forfeit two matches they played in the First Capital Plus Premier League, in accordance with the provisions of General Regulations of the GFA, because it claimed Aduana Stars failed and refused to pay a cost of GH¢5,000 imposed by the Disciplinary Committee within the stipulated 14-day period after the cost was communicated to them on March 21, 2014 before they honoured the Premier League matches against Hearts of Lions and Berekum Chelsea.

“We went to the FA thrice but could not get it [record of proceedings at the Disciplinary Committee hearing], despite assurances by the General Secretary of the GFA, Emmanuel Gyimah.”

“The delay in disposing of the case cannot be our fault. But in the name of fair play, our appeal must be heard before Congress,” appealed Alhaji Gruzah, whose club placed 14th on the league log and was automatically relegated.