Division One League club, Steadfast FC have been banned from using the Aliu Mahama Stadium in Tamale as their home ground by the Ghana Football Association’s Executive Council.
The GFA’s decision comes after the players and officials of Nsoatreman FC were “held hostage” by supporters of the Steadfast FC after their league game on Sunday, May 8, 2022.
The GFA said its Competitions Department will pick new home venues for Baffour Soccer Academy’s remaining games “taking into consideration the distance to be travelled by the away teams.”
“The Association is shocked and extremely alarmed at the holding of the team officials and players of the Away Team-Nsoatreman FC hostage at the Tamale Sports Stadium in the Northern Region by the home supporters,” he said.
The FA said it sees any attack on any officials or players as “an attack against the entire sport, it being, unwarranted and criminal,” given the extensive processes put in place to address grievances.
The away side were reportedly prevented from leaving after the match and had their bus pelted with missiles by fans of the home team, resulting in players and officials of Steadfast sustaining injuries.
The bus was eventually escorted out of the town by the police, further reports indicated.
“Considering the fact that the GFA has a process for complaining about any alleged bad officiating (if any) for redress through the Match Review Panel, the Executive Council of the Association sees any attack on the match officials and any participant of the game as an attack against the entire sport, it being, unwarranted and criminal,” the GFA’s statement said.
Credit: citisportsonline.com
