Accra Stadium still venue for Hearts v Kotoko match — GFA

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has stated that it cannot grant Kumasi Asante Kotoko’s request to shift their semi-final match with Hearts of Oak on neutral grounds and share the gate proceeds equally between the two clubs.

A statement dated June 3, and signed by the Deputy General Secretary of the GFA, Ismaila G. Amin, which was in reaction to Kotoko’s letter dated May 27, emphasised that the Hearts-Kotoko match would still take place at the Accra Stadium on June 16 as already indicated in the Competition Management System.

“We communicated the revised competition details to you in our letter dated March 22, 2019 via email on March 24, 2019 as indicated in the attached document.

“The disbursement formula for the sharing of gate proceeds unfortunately cannot change,” the statement explained.

“Your reference to Article 11(5) of the Regulations is alien to the matter under discussion, and would direct you to Article 12 (5) of the Regulations for a clear understanding.

“In the foregoing, we regret to inform you that we are unable to accede to your requests,” the statement added.

Earlier on June 2, Kotoko had expressed their disgust at the failure of the Normalisation Committee (NC) of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to clarify the format for their semi-final clash against rivals Hearts of Oak on June 16.

In a statement signed by the Director of Communications, Mr Samuel Sarfo Duku, Kotoko expressed their dissatisfaction with the NC’s delay in responding to a letter dated May 27, describing the attitude of the FA as disheartening and an impediment to proper planning and preparation ahead of games.

The management of Kotoko stated that it would only accept the decision of the FA to play a one-off semi-final provided it would be played on a neutral ground and the gate proceeds shared equally between the two clubs.

“Management, however, wishes to reiterate its earlier position that it will only accept the decision of the FA for a one-off semi-final match provided that it will be played on a neutral ground, and the gate proceeds shared equally between the clubs.”