Offenders of GFA betting rules liable for 1-year ban, GH¢5k fine

Participants of the Ghana Premier League (GPL) who are found to be involved in any form of betting or lottery in relation to the league will be banned for one year by the Ghana Football Association.

Additionally, the Ghana Premier League Regulations 2019 states that offenders are also liable for a GH¢5,000 fine.

The regulations define participants of the league to include but not limited to players, club officials, GFA officials, match officials, ball boys, or clubs.

Also, the regulations state that no betting or lottery company may use any fixture, result or any other material of the league for betting or lottery purposes without authorisation from the GFA.

46. Betting

1. No participant of a league match or the league, including but not limited to players, club officials, GFA officials, match officials, ball boys, or clubs, shall be involved in any form of betting or lottery in relation to the league whatsoever.

2. Any participant of the league who violates clause 1 above shall be banned for a least one (1) year and in addition, be liable to a fine of at least Five Thousand Ghana Cedis (GHc5,000.00).

3. No betting or lottery company or entity may use any fixture, result or any other material of the league for betting or lottery purposes without authorisation from the GFA.

It will be recalled that the GFA in January this year, warned betting companies to desist from offering odds on the outcome of Ghana Premier League (GPL) matches.

The GFA said as owner of all marketing, commercial and all rights associated with the GPL, betting companies need to seek approval before placing odds on matches.

"The GFA has not authorised any betting company to place betting on the Premier League or any of its products," the GFA statement said.

"The GFA, in exercising its exclusive right as the owner, organiser, controller and manager of the Ghana Premier League, wishes to caution all betting companies to desist from placing odds on Ghana Premier League matches without the necessary AUTHORISATION from the GFA".

Following recommendations by FIFA, the GFA also appointed an Integrity Officer to deal with all integrity-related legal matters as well as the risk of match-fixing and match manipulation.

GFA Premier League Regulations 2019