Adansiman place injunction on gala, league

Obuasi Adansiman Football Club have gone to court to restrain the Ghana Football Association (GFA) from organising the Guinness Gala and the Premier League, pending the outcome of their appeal in respect of an earlier protest they lodged against Berekum Arsenals for fielding an unqualified player in the person of George Brown.

Adansiman first protested to the GFA in a letter dated September 19, 2001 against Arsenal for fielding George Brown who, was an unqualified. player The protest was dismissed by the disciplinary committee of GFA on the grounds that the said George Brown was a floating player as declared by the Player Status Committee.

Adansiman appealed against that decision, citing the case of Asante Kotoko who won their case after their protest against Berekum Arsenals for fielding the same George Brown in a league match.

This appeal was also dismissed on the grounds that it was not done within the stipulated 72 hours under the regulations of the GFA.

However, according to a statement of claim by Mr Akwasi Effah, supporter of Adansiman who is initiating the court action, GFA actually deposited a copy of the decision dismissing the appeal in the club's pigeon hole at GHALCA after the close of work on Friday, October 26, 2001. Adansiman could therefore not be said to have gone outside the 72-hour period when they lodged their appeal on Monday, October 29, 2001.

On Friday, March 15, 2001, a Kumasi High Court issued an order restraining the GFA from organising this year's gala and commencing the league until the final determination of the case.

Meanwhile, the GFA, went ahead to organise the gala, saying they had not received the order at the time of kick-off to the two-day event which ended yesterday.