RTU fined GH¢100K for fielding unregistered players

The Disciplinary Committee of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has imposed a GH¢100,000 fine on Real Tamale United (RTU) FC following their controversial handling of a Matchday 28 fixture against Dreams FC.

The game, held at the Theater of Dreams in Dawu, saw RTU fielding unregistered players, leading to significant repercussions for the club.

In addition to the financial penalty, five RTU officials have been banned from all football-related activities for one year each.

The officials affected by the ban are Iddi Manzah Alhassan, Abdul-Samed Iddrisu, Abdul-Gafaru Salifu, Tanko Jentumah, and Sylvester Yaw Apanka. The bans are effective immediately.

The GFA Disciplinary Committee’s ruling is grounded in the violation of Section 34(6)(d) of the GFA Premier League Regulations, which pertains to behavior that brings the game into disrepute.

The Committee found that RTU’s actions, including fielding unregistered players to impersonate registered players, were intentional and deceptive.

RTU also failed to honour their final league match against Great Olympics which was pivotal in the context of the 2023/24 Ghana Premier League.

The club, already relegated, succumbed to an 8-1 defeat in the match, which raised concerns about the integrity of the game.

The club admitted to the charges but requested leniency, explaining that they were in a dire situation. Earlier reports suggested that RTU’s registered players refused to travel to participate in the game due to unpaid salaries, prompting the officials to field unregistered players in an attempt to fulfill the fixture.

The decision has sent shockwaves through the Ghanaian football community, particularly due to the overwhelming scoreline and the circumstances surrounding the match.

The GFA’s ruling reflected its commitment to upholding the integrity of the sport and ensuring that all teams comply with the established regulations and standards.