Tamale Utrecht have been fined GH¢400 after been charged with two counts in respect of the GN Bank Division One League match between Tamale Utrecht FC and Guan United FC played at Tamale.
On the first count, Tamale Utrecht FC was charged for failing to control the club’s supporters when in the 76th minute of the match they threw objects at Assistant Referee Two, resulting in a four (4) minutes hold up of play contrary to Articles 35(1)(1), 35(3)(b) and 35(7)(d) of the GFA General Regulations. On the second count, Tamale Utrecht FC was charged for failing to control the club’s supporters when after the match they verbally abused the match officials, physically assaulted the match officials and also held the match officials hostage in the dressing room for about ten (10) minutes until the police personnel were able to escort the match officials out of the park contrary to Articles 56, 58 and 59 of the Disciplinary Code and Article 35(2), 35(3)(c) and 35(7)(d) of the GFA General Regulations. PANEL 1. Prosper Harrison Addo, Esq. - Chairman 2. Eva Okyere, Esq. - Member 3. W.O.1 J. W. Amoo - Member 4. Godsway Glah - Member Emmanuel Newton Dasoberi - Secretary
IN ATTENDANCE Raphael Tottimeh - GFA Prosecutor
DEFENCE Tamale Utrecht FC in its written Statement of Defence pleaded not guilty to the charge. The club also waived its right to personal hearing.
PROCEEDINGS AND FINDINGS The Committee considered the depositions in the Charge Sheet, the written Statement of Defence and the reports of the match officials of the said match.
In his defence on the first count, Tamale Utrecht FC explains that “we wish to state that, we controlled our supporters in every match that we play at the Academy Field, We do not see or experience any hold up during the said match”.
On the second charge, Tamale Utrecht FC claimed that the match officials were not held hostage because it was even the club which transported the match officials to the bus station.
The Committee holds that it will again 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 Regulations of the GFA and shall accordingly apply the necessary sanction against Tamale Utrecht FC in this respect.
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 against the supporters of Tamale Utrecht FC, hereby imposes a fine of Four Hundred Ghana Cedis (GH¢400.00) on Tamale Utrecht 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 Tamale Utrecht 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) of the First Amendment to the GFA General Regulations.
3. 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 (See Article 37(11) of the General Regulations of the GFA).