GFA ready to help Kotoko pay $240,000 FIFA fine - Oduro Sarfo

Executive Council member of the Ghana Football Association, Nana Oduro Sarfo has opined that the body is willing to support Asante Kotoko pay the FIFA fine slapped on them for illegally registering a player of Esperance Sportive De Tunis.

FIFA has ordered Kotoko to pay $240,000 as fines and other legal costs incurred as a result of an arbitray process to look into the Ghanaian club’s unlawful registration of Emmanuel Clottey who was then on the books of the Tunisian club.

The world football governing body has given Asante Kotoko a deadline of May 10 to effect payment or face stricter sanctions, some of which includes demotion from the top flight to the lower division.

There are genuine concerns about Kotoko’s abitlity to raise the money and beat the deadline due to the current Covid-19 crisis’ impact on the local football economy.

As these concerns grow, suggestions have been offered on how the club can tackle this challenge.

Speaking in an individual capacity, Nana Oduro Sarfo says the GFA is ever willing to support Asante Kotoko but stresses that they must first demonstrate their seriousness by raising a substantial amount and subsequently request assistance from the association.

He told Asempa FM, “I am not speaking with authority, I am only sharing my opinion, I think the GFA does not know Kotoko’s financial strength, they have to organize themselves and raise a substantial sum.

“If they are able to do that and eventually write to the FA for financial assistance, then the FA per the executive council will look at it and if we can help, why not”

Nana Oduro Sarfo has also suggested that aside doling out money to help Kotoko there are other avenues they can look at to help.

He mentioned the option of the GFA engaging their Tunisian counterparts to lobby for a favorable arrangement for Kotoko to pay the money to Esperance.

He however insists its Asante Kotoko who should notify the GFA that they need their help.

“You know we are having our own financial issues to deal with which we’ve requested support from government”

“But maybe we can do some interventions on their behalf,

Its a club to club arrangement, but the federations can go behind and some guarantees could be given”, he noted.

Until they (Kotoko) recognize us as the head of their federation and they write to us. We will also look at it and then our views will be taken, then we take it from there” he concluded.