Adansiman petition GFA

ADANSIMAN Football Club have requested the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to review the case the club brought before the Appeals Committee on the eligibility of George Brown, a player of Berekum Arsenals Sporting Club.

Adansiman’s appeal was turned down on technical grounds that they failed to file the appeal after 72 hours as enshrined in Article 36(6) of the GFA Regulations.

Article 36(6) on Protests and Appeals states that “Any club, official or player who is dissatisfied or aggrieved by a decision of the Disciplinary Committee of the GFA may appeal against the decision to the Appeals Committee within 72 hours of being notified in writing of the decision of the Disciplinary Committee by the General Secretary of the GFA”.

In a statement signed by the Secretary, Mr Barimah Acheampong, the executive of the club said there has been a miscarriage of justice and called for immediate review.

The statement said a critical study of Article 36(6) and a mathematical calculation of 72 hours from the time Adansiman was notified in writing shows that the appeal was filed within the stipulated time.

“The Appeals Committee was misled by the defendants on the duration by always basing their argument on days instead of hours”, the statement said.

It said the communication of the verdict by the Disciplinary Committee smacked of some hidden agenda since even as far back as October 18, the club had visited the secretariat on four occasions to check from the secretary of the committee the verdict upon which they could file the appeal.

“On each occasion, the secretary claimed the report was not ready. How come the report was conspicuously placed in the letter box (pigeon hole) at the GHALCA office on a weekend and very late too? Also why was the verdict posted at GHALCA Secretariat and not at the GFA? Mr K. Appiah Pinkra, a Director of Adansiman inquired.

They argued that the fact that the letter was dated October 26 at which time it was put at the disposal of Adansiman at the GHALCA Secretariat raises eyebrows because as of 3 p.m. that day, some officials of the club were there and had nothing to pick from the box.

Again since there were two non-working days — Saturday and Sunday — the committee cannot add those days as part of the 72 hours, the statement said.

It expressed the hope the GFA would re-examine the whole issue for justice and fair play to reign.