Crippling fines hindering development of soccer

Accra, Dec 22, GNA - The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has been asked to impress on the Greater Accra Regional Football Association (RFA) to review the 'crippling' fines and fees imposed on offending Second Division clubs, as it is now the major hindrance to the development of the game.

Mr Jonathan Tettey Anum-Addo of Madina United in an interview with the GNA Sports said if these fines were not reviewed downwards within the shortest possible time, most clubs would start folding up in the nearest future.

"How on this earth, do you expect a second division club who get virtually nothing at the gates to pay 400,000 cedis for every red card shown and 250,000 cedis for two yellow cards which results in automatic expulsion.

"To make matters worse, after one squeezes water out of stone to transport teams to venues, the RFA imposes a 250 cedi fine on clubs that report late for such matches".

"Our investigations reveal that the Greater Accra RFA is the only Association to have imposed fines almost commensurate to fines imposed on Premier League and Division One Clubs".

Mr Anum-Addo said all clubs have to pay 95,000 cedis as officiating fees for every match but that the sad aspect of the issue is that in almost all the Club's 22 matches played in the past season, hardly do they get the three officials in attendance.

"It will surprise you that of the 22 matches we played this season, we had match commissioners in only six matches". "How then do we get fair and balance report of proceedings to the RFA as the referee becomes the only reporting official." He said currently clubs get nothing for participating in the Second Division league and to be saddled with all these fines and fees kills ones desire to continue supporting the game.

Mr Anum-Addo said some of them continue to support the development of the game at the grassroots because of their addiction, therefore when they are pushed to the edge, they will not loose anything much by abandoning the game altogether. 22 Dec 05