The GFA Disciplinary Committee has fined Dunkwa United an amount of GH¢1500 in respect of their GN Bank Division League match against Gold Stars in Dunkwa.
Dunkwa United FC were charged for failing to control its supporters during the match, when the supporters entered the inner perimeter without authorization and verbally attacked the technical bench of Gold Stars FC and also attempted to physically assault them.
The club’s actions was therefore deemed to have been in violation of Articles 56, 58, 59 and 66 of the GFA Disciplinary Code and Articles 35(1)(a), 35(2), 35(3)(c), 35(4) and 35(10) of the GFA General Regulations.
On the second count, Dunkwa United FC was charged for failing to control its supporters after the final whistle when they entered the inner perimeter without authorization and chased Farouk Adams, a player of Gold Stars FC and also threw a stone to hit Adams Bannor, a player of Gold Stars FC who had to be rushed to the hospital and could have physically assaulted more persons had it not been for the efforts of the security personnel, Mr. Frank Mensah, the CEO of Dunkwa United FC and one Mohammed Adamu.
This behavior of the Supporters s also deemed to be in violation of Articles 56, 58, 59 and 66 of the GFA Disciplinary Code and Articles 35(1)(a), 35(2), 35(3)(c), 35(4) and 35(10) of the GFA General Regulation.
DEFENCE Dunkwa United FC in its written Statement of Defence pleaded not guilty to the charge and requested for a personal hearing to defend the charges against the club.
PROCEEDINGS AND FINDINGS The Committee examined the depositions in the Charge Sheet, the written Statement of Defence, the oral evidence and the reports of the match officials of the said match.
In its Statement of Defence signed by the Founder and Chairman of the club, Dr. Mark Kurt Nawaane, Dunkwa United FC explained (on the first count) that: “… a supporter of Dunkwa United requested wanted to speak to our coach. Initially he was restricted. However, the security men later allowed him to interact with our coach for a few minutes. When his voice was getting raised, he was sent out. He never interacted with the opposing team’s bench nor did play come to halt”
On the second count, Dunkwa United, among others, explained that: “… the supporters reacted to an attempt by Bibiani Gold Stars team to rush on the referee after the final whistle. Our supporters protected the referee and other officials alongside the security men. However, one of the Bibiani Gold Stars players Swala, a former player of Dunkwa United slapped a supporter sparking a whole new volatile situation”
According to the club, Dunkwa United was not guilty. However, the Committee, after examining the evidence from both the Prosecutor and the club, was clear in its position that the regulations do not allow a supporter to enter the inner perimeter to give peep talks to coaches while a match is in progress.
Again, on the second count, Dunkwa United FC could not convince the Committee to reject the facts as contained in the official match reports. It was not the place of the supporters to enter the field of play to protect officials against players. The police should have been allowed to deal with the situation.
The Committee holds that it will side with the presumption under Article 85 of the Disciplinary Code on the facts stated in the match report as the club failed to disprove the facts of the match report. The Committee holds that the conduct of the supporters is outlawed by the GFA Regulations.
The Disciplinary Committee was satisfied with the evidence before it that the conduct of the supporters amounts to misconduct and a breach of the regulations of the GFA on both counts and shall accordingly apply the necessary sanction against Dunkwa United FC in this respect.
The Committee takes judicial notice of and commends the efforts of Mr. Frank Mensah, the Operations Manager of Dunkwa United FC and one Mohammed Adamu.
DECISIONS
The Disciplinary Committee makes the following decisions:
1. That the Committee, having satisfied itself that the evidence adduced before it supports the charge of misconduct on count one, hereby imposes a fine of Five Hundred Ghana Cedis (GH¢500.00) on Dunkwa United FC in accordance with Article 39(1)(b) of the GFA General Regulations.
2. That the Committee, having satisfied itself that the evidence adduced before it supports the charge of misconduct on count two, hereby imposes a fine of One Thousand and Five Hundred Ghana Cedis (GH¢1,500.00) on Dunkwa United FC in accordance with Article 39(1)(b) of the GFA General Regulations. Five Hundred Ghana Cedis (GHc500.00) of the fine is hereby suspended in recognition of the excellent role played by Mr. Frank Mensah, the Operations Manager of Dunkwa United FC and one Mohammed Adamu.
3. That Dunkwa United FC and its supporters are hereby warned to be of good behaviour and that should the club be found guilty of any misconduct charges during this football season, the Committee shall apply the maximum sanctions against the club including a stadium ban.
4. That the fine totaling (GHc1,500.00) mentioned in Decisions 1 and 2 above, shall be paid to the GFA within fourteen (14) days upon receipt of this Ruling, failing which Dunkwa United FC shall automatically forfeit all subsequent matches after the said deadline in accordance with Article 15(b) of the GFA Disciplinary Code and Article 39(8)(b), 39(8)(d) and 39(8)(f) of the First Amendment to the GFA General Regulations.
5. That should any party be dissatisfied with or aggrieved by this Ruling, the party has within three (3) days of being notified of this Ruling to appeal to the Appeals Committee (See Article 37(11) of the General Regulations of the GFA).