Jonathan Mensah banned; Can’t play for Ghana

Jonathan Mensah has been hit harder than expected after being banned from football for four months by the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS), a situation which has also affected his availability for Ghana’s Black Stars.

Mensah, a regular defender for Ghana’s senior national football team, has been suspended for four months over a transfer activity that saw him leave Italian Serie A to the French Ligue 1 in July 2011.

According to a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the 24-year old centre-back has been found culpable over his transfer from Udinese to French side Evian TG.

It means Mensah will miss the start of next season but crucially for Ghana, he will also be absent from the 2017 Nations Cup qualifier against Mauritius, scheduled for Accra on June 14.

News of Mensah's ban from all football activity comes as a double blow for the player, whose club Evian were relegated from the French top flight last Saturday.

French news outlet, Le Dauphiné, reported on Friday that the Ghana international has been barred from football for a period of four months while his current club Evian has been fined one million euros for signing him as a free agent while he was still under contract with the Italian side.

Evian who were led by Pascal Dupraz during proceedings could further face a transfer ban for two consecutive seasons but that has been suspended.

Evian by the ruling have been dealt a double blow, following their relegation last Saturday.