The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has opened investigations into the Ghana Premier League (GPL) Match-day 34 game played between Ashanti Gold SC and Inter Allies FC at the Len Clay Stadium at Obuasi on Saturday.
This followed claims of match-fixing leveled against the clubs after the host emerged 7-0 winners.
The reports of match-fixing went viral after the game over the manner two own goals were scored by the visiting team’s defender, Hashmin Musah, who was introduced from the bench.
The result was linked to a betting scam as allegation of the Miners winning by a 5-1 margin trend before the game with fans in Obuasi alleged to have placed massive bet on the result.
The player in the centre of the storm, Hashmin Musah’s reported response on the drama seems to have given some credence to the rumour of some compromise.
“I heard it in our hotel that there was a correct score line of five goals to one against my club Inter Allies. I decided to spoil that bet because I don’t condone betting.
“I promised my coach that if he allows me to play from the bench, I will spoil the bet and after the game my team congratulated me,” Hashmin was reported to have said on Kumasi based Kessben 104.1FM.
To maintain the integrity of the association and the league, appointed its Compliance and Integrity Officer and its Prosecutors to lead the investigations.
A statement issued yesterday by the Association made indications of involving the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service and the Ghana wing of Interpol for the criminal investigation of the game.
But immediately, the FA has asked for statements from the two clubs and the players and the technical team members of the two clubs.
It is also calling on any member of the public, the media, players, technical team members to also send any evidence or information whatsoever connected to the match audio to assist the investigations through the GFA integrity Hotline and email.
“As provided for in the GFA Statutes and emphasised during all the training the GFA gave to clubs and match officials before the start of the league, one of the core objectives of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) is the commitment to promote the integrity of football in Ghana. “The GFA is committed to investigate all reports of match manipulation(s) and bring the culprits before the Ethics Committee of the Association. The GFA is also committed to report to and assist the Ghana Police Service all such cases of match.
BY ANDREW NORTEY
