Hearts abandon Kotoko’s Obed Owusu protest

Accra Hearts of Oak will no longer pursue their case against the Ghana Football Association on the issues of Asante Kotoko’s Obed Owusu.

The Phobians who were initially heading for the Court of Arbitration of Sports (CAS) following the manner in which the Appeals Committee of the GFA overturned a ruling on their behalf, have decided to forgrt the whole issue and move on as a Club.

Hearts lodged a protest against Asante Kotoko for fielding striker Obed Owusu in their First Capital Plus Premier League match week 25 fixture. As a result, Kotoko suffered a forfeiture of the said match by deduction of six points from their total points and Hearts were awarded 3 goals and 3 points in accordance with article 34(2) of the General Regulations of the FA.

A fine of GH¢5,000.00 was also imposed on Kotoko. Asante Kotoko appealed and won the decision of the Disciplinary Committee which ruled that the Elite Clubs Competition matches were not official matches and therefore, the player could not have served his suspension by sitting out in the Kotoko vs. Dunkwa United match.

Not satisfied, Hearts sent the case to the review committee of the GFA and lost, an action that Club officials swore to continue. But after several deliberations by both the Board and the Management of the Club, they have decided to ‘let sleeping dogs lie’.

It is relatively unknown why the Phobians decided not to chase the matter, but sources close to the Hearts secretariat have mentioned that recent happenings in the Club coupled with the late start of the Ghana League might have informed their decision.