Ghanaian clubs relegated after match-fixing scandal

ACCRA. - Ashanti Gold and Inter Allies have been relegated to the third tier of Ghanaian football, with players and officials of both clubs also sanctioned for match-fixing.

A Ghana Premier League game between the two sides in September ended 7-0 to Ashanti Gold, with Hashmin Musah scoring two own goals as he claimed to try and prevent a pre-arranged 5-1 scoreline.

Musah’s claims and notifications of suspicious betting patterns were investigated by the Ghana Football Association, who have found both teams guilty of match manipulation.

As well as both teams having to play Division Two football next season, several club officials, coaches and players were banned from football.

The most severe sanction was given to Inter Allies volunteer Emmanuel Nii Amoah, also known as Nii Gogo, who was barred for life for his role in the fix.

Ashanti Gold president Dr Kwaku Frimpong was given a 10-year ban and fined 100,000 Ghanaian Cedis (US$13,000) while his son Emmanuel Frimpong, the club’s chief executive, got an eight-year ban and a fine of 50,000 Ghanaian Cedis.

Musah himself was banned for two years but his sanction was reduced to six months for his role in “unravelling” the fixed match.

However, Musah was “warned not to take the law into his hands” and reminded of his duty “to disclose any such occurring to the GFA” through its integrity hotline.

Four other men - the respective head coaches and team managers from both clubs were all banned for two years.

Fourteen Ashanti Gold players were suspended for between two and four years and the club’s sporting director was also given a fouryear ban.

As well as Musah, a further 11 Inter Allies players and their goalkeeping coach were suspended for between two and three years. BBC