–BY Nadia Ntiamoah
The Ghana Football Association’s Disciplinary Committee has imposed sanctions on Berekum Chelsea’s head coach, Samuel Boadu, and five of his players for misconduct towards match officials during their MTN FA Cup semi-final match against Asante Kotoko.
The match, which Kotoko won 1-0, saw tensions flare over refereeing decisions, culminating in scenes deemed “contrary to the principles of sportsmanship, respect for match officials, and the integrity of the game”.
The Incident
The incident occurred after the final whistle, when Coach Boadu and his players approached the match officials in an “aggressive, angry, and fierce manner”.
This behaviour was deemed unsporting and disrespectful, bringing the game into disrepute.
The GFA’s statement on May 13 highlighted that the actions of the coach and players breached Article 12(1)(i) of the GFA Disciplinary Code, 2019, and Article 34(6)(d) of the GFA Premier League Regulations, 2019.
Sanctions
Following a disciplinary hearing, the Committee ruled that all five players and their head coach were guilty of misconduct.
Each individual was fined GHC 1,000, but the penalties were suspended for six months, contingent upon good behavior.
The offenders, particularly Coach Boadu, were issued strong warnings, cautioning that further infractions could result in stiffer sanctions, including touchline bans or suspension from all football-related activities.
Implications
The sanctions come as a reminder of the GFA’s zero-tolerance stance on conduct that threatens the integrity and decorum of Ghanaian football, especially in high-stakes competitions like the FA Cup.
Kumasi Asante Kotoko, who benefited from the win, has since secured a spot in the MTN FA Cup final, where they will face Golden Kick FC.
Berekum Chelsea, on the other hand, will need to ensure that their players and staff adhere to the expected standards of behavior to avoid further sanctions.
