Kotoko regain point
Kumasi Asante Kotoko made a significant leap from sixth to second to restore joy among their faithful fans, pushing sworn-rivals Accra Hearts of Oak deep down from fourth to the 13th position after winning an appeal in respect of player Obed Owusu.
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This was after the Appeals Committee of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) had upheld Kotoko’s appeal against an earlier ruling by the Disciplinary Committee on September 1.
The Appeals Committee, chaired by its vice chairman Alhaji Farouk Seidu, stated: “Having considered the various definitions ascribed to official matches we cannot but conclude that the Elite Clubs Cup Competition matches are for all intents and purposes official matches of the FA.’
“In the circumstances, the Elite Clubs Cup Competition match played between Kotoko and Dunkwa United was an official match. Obed Owusu, having sat out in that particular match has therefore satisfied article 39(5)(a)(v) of the General Regulations of the FA. The player, therefore, having served his automatic suspension in the said match became eligible or qualified when he featured for Kotoko in the subsequent matches, being Kotoko vs. Berekum Chelsea, WAFA vs. Kotoko, Kotoko vs. Ashgold and Hearts vs. Kotoko.”
“We, therefore, hereby uphold the appeal filed by Kotoko and overturn the decision of the Disciplinary Committee dated September 1, 2015. The results of the match in question stand undisturbed. The six points deducted from the accumulated points of Kotoko are hereby restored and Hearts remain the loser of the said match. The GH¢5,000.00 fine awarded against Kotoko is also vacated.”
A dissatisfied Kotoko appealed against the Disciplinary Committee’s ruling that the Elite Clubs Competition matches were not official matches and, therefore, the player could not have served his suspension by sitting out in the Kotoko-Dunkwa United match.
Based on that assumption, the player was, therefore, adjudged to be unqualified when he featured for Hearts against Kotoko in a league match in Accra on August 2, 2015, after featuring for Kotoko in three previous matches upon his third caution.
As a result, Kotoko forfeited the said match via a six-point deduction from their total points, while Hearts were awarded three points and three goals in accordance with article 34(2) of the General Regulations of the FA. A fine of GH¢5,000.00 was also imposed on Kotoko.
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As it stands, Kotoko can go to Africa in case CAF restores Ghana’s two Champions League slots next year, raising the hopes of the former league champions.
In an interview, an elated General Manager of Kotoko, Samuel Opoku Nti, was simply thankful to God for vindicating him.
“I’m grateful to God for vindicating me. I prayed to God to restore Kotoko’s points and that is exactly what has happened,” he said.
Asked whether the ruling had cleared the way for Kotoko to participate in the contentious GHALCA Top 6, Opoku Nti said a decision would be taken to that effect after the club had officially received an invitation letter from GHALCA.
When contacted for his reaction, the Managing Director of Hearts, Gerald Ankrah, also said the club could only decide on the its next line of action after it had been furnished with a copy of the ruling.