Former Ashantigold defender, Frank Akoto says he is elated with the news of the Court of Arbitration’s (CAS) annulment of all sanctions imposed on players involved in alleged match-fixing between Inter Allies and AshantiGold SC, including him.
The CAS ruling overturns all punishments imposed by the Ghana FA, including a ban on the said players.
The GFA’s Disciplinary Committee decision sanctioned 21 players who were involved in the match, which ended 7-0 to AshantiGold at the Len Clay stadium in Obuasi.
In a statement issued by CAS today, 27 July 2023, the Ghana Football Association has been ordered to pay 6,300 Swiss Francs to the players to be distributed thus 300 Swiss Francs each for their ‘legal fees and other expenses incurred in connection with these arbitration proceedings.
GFA will also pay 3,000 Swiss Francs to Richmond Lamptey of Asante Kotoko Sporting Club as contribution towards his legal fees and other expenses incurred in connection with these arbitration proceedings
According to the former AshantiGold player, the verdict by Ghana’s FA to ban him and other colleagues for their alleged involvement in manipulating the results of the match destroyed their football careers as many were unable to be involved in footballing activities for almost a year.
He disclosed his readiness to bounce back and find a club in other to return to playing in the top flight.
“The verdict was very painful because we woke up well prepared to go play our match against Inter Allies, only for us to get to the field for our opponents to score our own goal because the match was manipulated without our knowledge. But the ruling affected us because we also played the match. This destroyed our careers. Today is the happiest day of my life, I’m very elated about the ruling by CAS,” Frank said in an interview on HappyFM’s Wamputu Sports.
The Ghana Football Association, on the other hand, has acknowledged receipts of CAS’s verdict stating that the Association would duly oblige.
By: Ahashie Judeliver Eli
