No out-of-court settlement — Gruzah

An imminent showdown between the Ghana Football Association and King Faisal owner, Alhaji Karim Gruzah, could further delay the start of the First Capital Plus Premier League following the latter’s refusal to accept any out-of-court settlement being suggested by some football officials to end the stalemate.

Alhaji Gruzah said unless his club was reinstated in the elite league, any overtures by the authorities to cajole him into back-tracking on his pursuit for justice would fail, because he was not ready to renege on his demands.

Speaking to the Graphic Sports, the Faisal boss lamented the perceived injustice which was meted out to him by the GFA, when he once fell victim to that same statute against Tano Bofoakwa sometime back, and did not understand why he was being treated differently this time around.

Faisal are in court with the GFA after losing an appeal challenging their relegation from the Premier League. Thier protest follows a petition against Aduana Stars for the Dormaa-Ahenkro club’s failure to pay a fine within the stipulated time after losing a protest against Hearts of Oak.

Feeling his club had been given the short end of the stick, Faisal obtained an injunction by an Accra High Court on the GFA congress last month, thus delaying the start of the league.

But Alhaji Gruzah said he was not to blamed for the delay of the league because he wanted posterity to judge him as someone who stood for the truth and sought justice through the right channel.

He said there should be a level playing field for all because just as any Ghanaian, he, likewise King Faisal, should be treated like anybody who falls at the wrong side of the law.

“I am also a Ghanaian and King Faisal is an institution so I don't see why we should be treated differently on the same statute,” he remarked.

The veteran football administrator confirmed that the GFA had requested through its lawyer to see Faisal officials for negotiation, but he promised to maintain his position at the proposed meeting.