Refer Hearts, Kotoko case to CAF, FIFA

The Chairman of Neoplan Stars Football Club, Jonathan Pobee Abbey, has proposed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Accra Hearts of Oak and Kumasi Asante Kotoko to halt the feud between them over their placement on the league table.

He said it was also important for the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to  seek external interpretation from Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) or the Confedration of African Football (CAF) so that the two teams regain confidence in the ruling of the FA.

Sharing his thoughts on the ruling of the GFA’s Appeals Committee with the Graphic Sports, the veteran administrator said the back and forth decisions and agitations arising from the ruling on the case involving the two clubs were unhealthy to the country’s football and, therefore, there was the need for a neutral body’s intervention.

Accra Hearts of Oak are contesting the Appeals Committee of the GFA’s ruling which restored six points to Kotoko after the Disciplinary Committee had earlier ruled against Kotoko for fielding an unqualified player in the person of Obed Owusu during their game against Kotoko in Accra last season.

But Hearts of Oak are challenging that ruling with some officials determined to drag the matter to court.

However, the Kumasi-based football administrator said a proper interpretation by FIFA was the only way to restore confidence in the ruling.

He said once FIFA or CAF made pronouncements on the case, it would become a precedence for future reference while the judicial system’s credibility remained intact.

Mr Abbey said this was not the first time the country would be seeking interpretation to a case from external bodies and cited for example, the Charles Taylor transfer saga, which eventually had to be settled by FIFA.