A player of Gold Stars Osei Kwame has been fined an amount of GHC500.00 as a result of a misconduct in their GN Bank Division One match against Dunkwa United.
The player was charged with one count in respect to the said match played at Dunkwa for rushing at the match officials after the final whistle and for insulting the match officials and attempting to physically assault them in violation of Articles 56, 58, and 59 of the GFA Disciplinary Code and Articles 35(1)(a), 35(2) and 35(3)(c) of the GFA General Regulations.
DEFENCE Osei Kwame in its written Statement of Defence pleaded not guilty to the charge.
PROCEEDINGS AND FINDINGS The Committee examined the depositions in the Charge Sheet, the written Statement of Defence and the reports of the match officials of the said match.
In his Statement of Defence, Osei Kwame denied the charge and stated that the supporters of Dunkwa United FC invaded the field after the match for which reason the players were running for protection. He explained that he saw the security men with the referee and decided to seek protection there. Osei Kwame concluded that: “I sincerely apologize to the match officials and the security if they misconceived my running towards them safety as an insult and attempted insult, if the I am sorry that was not my intention”
After considering all the evidence, 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 player failed to disprove the facts of the match report. The Disciplinary Committee was satisfied with the evidence before it that the conduct of Osei Kwame amounts to misconduct and a breach of the regulations of the GFA on both counts and shall accordingly apply the necessary sanction in this respect.
DECISIONS The Disciplinary Committee, having considered the apology of the player, makes the following decisions:
1. That the Committee, having satisfied itself that the evidence adduced before it supports the charge of misconduct against player Osei Kwame, hereby imposes a fine of Five Hundred Ghana Cedis (GH¢500.00) on player Osei Kwame of Gold Stars FC in accordance with Article 39(1)(b) of the GFA General Regulations.
2. That the fine mentioned in Decision 1 above, shall be paid to the GFA within fourteen (14) days upon receipt of this Ruling, failing which Gold Stars 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.
3. 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).