Kotoko fans protest decision

Kumasi Asante Kotoko Supporters, yesterday took to the streets of Kumasi chanting war songs and threatening to boycott the rest of the league if the Ghana Football Association (GFA) refuses to reverse the decision to deduct three points from their points build up.

They contended that there has been a calculated attempt by the GFA to cause confusion in the club through bias decisions for the past four years and warned that the soccer organising body can no longer hold the club to ransom by deducting points on any flimsy excuse.

Their spokesman, Mr Henry Boaitey, who is also the chairman of the Ashanti Circles, later presented a petition to the Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr S. K. Boafo when they converged at the Regional Office.

A copy of the petition was sent to the government through the Regional Minister.

Prior to that, the supporters converged at the club’s secretariat in Kumasi as early as 8 a.m. chanting club slogans to register their protest against the decision of the disciplinary committee.

They described the decision as unfortunate and a calculated attempt not only to discourage the players from putting up their best but also to prevent the team from winning the league trophy for the first time since the premier league was instituted.

Meanwhile, the management of Kotoko has served notice of appeal against the decision of the GFA Disciplinary Committee, which declared them losers in their 18th week league match with Tano Bofoakwa which ended abruptly at the Sunyani Coronation Park on September 9.

According to Kotoko, the decision of the Disciplinary Committee is against the weight of evidence adduced at the hearing and indicated that “additional grounds shall be filed upon receipt of the records of proceedings”.

A statement signed by the Accra Representative of the club, Kwame Amoa-Bosompem, yesterday asked that the decision of the Disciplinary Committee be set aside and “the protest of Kotoko should be upheld and accordingly a replay ordered in the match between Bofoakwa and Kotoko”.

The Disciplinary Committee last Monday found Kotoko guilty of the abrupt end of the September 9, match in the 74th minute when an official of Kotoko (ball boy) allegedly emerged from the Kotoko bench to attack referee Kwame Ghartey.

By the decision, Kotoko were also to lose three points from their accumulated points and also to pay a fine of ?2 million while Bofoakwa were awarded three points and three goals.