National Sports Authority toughens rules for clubs

The National Sports Authority (NSA), has resolved to take drastic actions against organizers of club football in the country following the ripping of about 275 seats at the Baba Yara stadium in a Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko friendly according to Director General, Mr. Majeed Bawa.

Some fans of Accra Hearts of Oak poured their spleen at the state property instead of Referee Ben Kwame Sefa, who correctly denied them a penalty appeal when forward Patrick Razak appeared to have been fouled in the Kotoko’s box in the Phobians 2-0 loss to the Porcupines on September 2, 2018, courtesy of goals from Obed Owusu and Emmanuel Gyamfi.

Seven football fans believed to be Hearts of Oak supporters were apprehended by the police and military who were on duty and arranged before Nkawie court in Kumasi but were subsequently granted GHS 50,000 bail five days later.

The NSA tasked the two clubs to foot the bills else they would not gain access to any of the stadia in the country. However, neither of the clubs have made payment despite agreeing in principle to do so and NSA have decided to make organizers of football in the country sign a bond before gaining access.

“After the supporters destroyed the seats at the (Baba Yara) stadium, I spoke to the two teams (Asante Kotoko and Hearts of Oak) i.e. the organizers that they were going to be surcharged, they were going to pay for the destroyed seats.

“We counted them and they were 275 seats and they agreed to pay with some reservations because they thought that the number of seats that were destroyed could not amount to 275,” Director General of the National Authority Sports Authority said in an interview on Kwesé Free Sports afternoon show, Prime Sports.

“Hearts sent their local representatives in Kumasi to count the seats and they realized that we gave them the correct figure. We wrote to the two teams after we asked a company to quantify the cost and we were told GHS 38,500. We gave a covering letter to the Clubs and Hearts of Oak led by its CEO (Mark Noonan) met us to deliberate on the letter and I told them they must pay for the damage.” He added.

Over the years, hooligans have escaped the laws despite destroying state property, the NSA have drafted contractual documents for organizers of football matches to sign a bond before the facilities are released. Asante Kotoko were the first to have such agreement with the NSA when they played Ashanti Gold about two weeks ago.

“I have told them no match will be played on any of facilities without an agreement be it: GHALCA organized match, friendly match or Normalization Committee match. Who ever is organizing a match must have an agreement with us on how to replace things that will be destroyed during a match.

“Asante Kotoko signed an agreement with us for their game against Ashanti Gold committing that if anything is destroyed, they will take responsibility of replacing them.

“GHALCA delegation came to request for the facilities because they have support from StarTimes to organize matches for clubs, I told them we can allow you to use them but you’ll be responsible for the organization so we have to have an agreement with you. If anything destroyed anywhere, we know GHALCA and not the teams that are involved.

“Now we are not looking at the participating teams but the organizers and that is the reason why we asked the two teams to pay.” He stated.

It is unclear when these clubs will pay for the seats as they were not told how much each club should pay, but NSA will ensure that is done.