AshGold chief could be banned for betting

AshantiGold President Dr. Kwaku Frimpong is in danger of copping a FIFA ban after engaging in betting.

The famous businessman has had to part with an expensive Lamborghini after losing a bet in AshGold’s 3-2 defeat to Asante Kotoko on Sunday.

Dr. Frimpong popularly referred to as ‘Champion’ in the buildup to the game challenged supporters of Kotoko to a bet – insisting his club will beat the Porcupine Warriors.

The affluent entrepreneur was left disappointed after the Miners crashed to a 3-2 defeat in the first leg of their friendly tie dubbed ‘The Golden Clash’ and was forced to give away a Lamborghini worth in excess of $50,000.

This is however against article 26 paragraph 1 of the FIFA Code of Ethics which reads; “Persons bound by this Code shall be forbidden from participating in, either directly or indirectly, betting, gambling, lotteries or similar events or transactions related to football matches or competitions and/or any related football activities”.

This means the AshGold President might be in breach of the FIFA Code of Ethics and could suffer punishments ranging from a fine or even a ban from all football activities for a period or for life.

The AshGold chief is however not relenting on betting ahead of the second leg encounter in Obuasi as he has offered another wager – a house reportedly worth $500,000 in favour of a win for the Miners.

A top football lawyer says this betting behavior could land Dr. Frimpong in trouble with FIFA as he is bound by the FIFA Code of Ethics.

“Clearly these reports are worrying and could have dire consequences for Dr. Frimpong,” the lawyer told FootballmadeinGhana.com.

“FIFA takes issues of betting very serious and have banned people who were even remotely linked to such issues so I don’t know who is advising him [Frimpong] into making these betting pronouncements and is seen in public participating in it.”

This current FIFA Code of Ethics was adopted at the meeting of the FIFA Council of 10 June 2018, based on proposals from the Ethics Committee.

It came into force on August 12, 2018.