The Disciplinary Committee of the Ghana Football Association has upheld a petition by Guan United Sporting Club against Berekum Arsenals FC.
CASE OF GUAN UNITED SC
Guan United Sporting Club (the Petitioner) on August 31, 2016 protested against Berekum Arsenals Football Club (the Respondent) for failing to pay fines imposed on or before the fourteen (14) day deadline in contravention of Articles 39(8)(b) and 39(8)(d) of the General Regulations of the GFA as at the date of playing the Match Day 27 match against the Petitioner played on August 28, 2016 which ended with a 1-1 score line.
According to the Petitioner, Berekum Arsenals FC failed to pay the fines imposed on the club to be paid within the stipulated time limit by the Disciplinary Committee.
Berekum Arsenals FC were fined Five Hundred Ghana Cedis for the misconduct of the club’s head coach, Kwabena Asare on May 26, 2016 which the club had not paid.
Secondly, the Petitioner claimed that Berekum Arsenals FC was also fined an amount of Two Thousand Ghana Cedis for the misconduct of the club’s Operations Manager which the club had not paid. Thirdly, the Petitioner further alleged that the Respondent was also fined an amount of Five Thousand Ghana Cedis for the club’s failure to honour an MTN FA Cup match against Wa All Stars but has not paid.
Guan United consequently, prayed that Berekum Arsenals FC should forfeit the match, and Guan United SC should be declared as winners of the match with three points and three goals awarded in favour of Guan United SC.
The Berekum side however failed to file a Statement of Defence to the Protest within three (3) days upon receipt of the Protest as stipulated by the GFA General Regulations.
After a committee perusal of the petition, the Disciplinary Committee of the GFA upheld the petition and has made the following decision:
1. That for failing to pay its fines to the GFA on or before the 14-day deadline, Berekum Arsenals FC has acted in violation of Article 39(8)(b) and 39(8)(d) of the General Regulations (as amended on December 30, 2014 by the GFA Congress) and shall forfeit the match in respect of this protest.
2. That consequently the match result is hereby annulled and shall not stand.
3. That having been found to forfeit the match, Berekum Arsenals FC shall be deemed as having lost the match 3-0 to Guan United Sporting Club in accordance with Articles 31(1) and 31(2) of the GFA Disciplinary Code.
4. That should any party be dissatisfied with or aggrieved by this Decision, the party has within three (3) days of being notified of this Ruling to appeal to the Appeals Committee of the Ghana Football Association {See Article 37(11) of the General Regulations of the GFA}.
By Musah Abelyire/ghanaguardian.com
twitter:@OneRealWriter
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