Ashantigold SC has been demoted to Division 2 for their involvement in a match fixing scandal last season. A match played between the club and Inter Allies FC July, 17th 2021 at the Obuasi Len Clay Stadium raised a lot of suspicion among football stakeholders.
The 2020/21 Ghana Premier League Match day 34 game had observers raising several reports of match fixing due to the nature of play carried out on the field resulting in the match eventually ending 7 goals for Ashantigold SC whiles 0 for Inter Allies FC as the final score.
Findings released by the Ghana Football Association Disciplinary Committee sitting on case said “A video extract of the match circulated on various social media platforms showing a player of Inter Allies FC scoring two own goals and also showed a lackluster attitude of players on the field of play” amongst other observations calling for cause of concern.
Also the GFA Compliance & Integrity Office together with the GFA Prosecutors investigated the matter and in accordance with Article 34(5) of the GFA Premier League Regulations preferred charges against the two clubs and referred Ashantigold SC to the Disciplinary Committee.
Ashantigold SC was charged with three counts whiles President of the club Dr. Kwaku Frimpong, Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel Frimpong Ashantigold SC and some players were also charged for breaching various articles of the GFA Disciplinary Code, 2019.
“According to prosecution, during Interrogation, most of the players of Inter Allies FC made comments on hearing that the match was fixed. The players also made statements of hearing fans of Ashantigold SC chanting a score line of 5-1, when they got to the Obuasi Len Clay stadium”.
In the Match Commissioner‟s report under the subtitle, “Incident”, the Match Commissioner wrote, “in the 77th and 80th minutes No. 5 (DF) player of Inter Allies Hasmin Musah intentionally scored two quick goals i.e., 6th and 7th goals respectively against his own team when he was not under any pressure. Surprisingly, the technical bench applauded him”.
Some players, match officials as well as football executives were invited to the disciplinary hearing sitting on the case to prove that the match was not fixed with other players not showing up. Aside Ashantigold’s demotion to division 2, a fine of GHc100,000.00 was imposed on Ashantigold SC in accordance with Article 6(1)(c) and Article 6(4) of the GFA Disciplinary Code 2019.
“The President of Ashantigold SC Dr. Kwaku Frimpong is banned from taking part in any football-related activity for a period of 120 months in accordance with Article 34.5(d)(i) of the Ghana Premier League Regulations 2019”.
Some players and official of Ashantigold SC were also banned for months each in accordance Ghana Premier League Regulations. ”That all above-mentioned sanctions shall commence from the 2022-23 League season. This decision shall be communicated to FIFA to be given international application in accordance with the GFA Disciplinary Code and FIFA Disciplinary Code considering that a number of players are now playing in clubs outside the jurisdiction of the Ghana Football Association”.
