Goldfields Turn To FIFA

Obuasi Goldfields Sporting Club are currently awaiting FIFA’s views and decision on the qualification or otherwise of their player Valentine Atem, who the Appeals Committee of the Ghana Football Association declared unqualified to play in the Premier League.

Goldfields’ expectation follows the successful filing of an appeal for the proper interpretation of the laws and circumstances leading to one arm of the Ghana Football Association clearing Atem to play in the league with the other disqualifying him.

The Disciplinary Committee of the FA initially dismissed protests filed by Accra Great Olympics and Real Tamale United against Goldfields claiming that Cameroonian import Atem was not qualified to play in the league.

The two clubs vowed to get justice and appealed against the Disciplinary Committee’s decision. Their protests were upheld and Goldfields were then made to suffer 12 points being six points for punishment and the forfeiture of the six other points they had for winning those two games.

The club then asked for a review of the decision but the committee upheld its earlier decision, forcing Goldfields to warn of further and thorough proscution of the case to ensure that justice is not denied any side.

Accra representative of Goldfields, Owoahene Acheampong yesterday told the Soccer Express that relevant documentation to prosecute the case were forwarded to FIFA last Friday.

No response yet has been received but Goldfields say they are hopeful the decision of the Appeals Committee to punish the club for fielding Atem in their matches would be overturned.

Accra Hearts of Oak, who had also filed a similar protest on the lines of the Great Olympics and Real Tamale United cases which resulted in the points deductions, withdrew another protest against the player arguing that Goldfields seemed to have a stronger case in its defence.