Hearts call on GFA to help retrieve money from Barreto

Accra, Feb 12, GNA - Accra Hearts of Oak Sporting Club has asked the Ghana Football Association (GFA), to investigate and possibly retrieve an amount of 50,000 dollars unjustly extorted from their player, Daniel Coleman by ex-Black Stars Coach, Mariano Barreto.

The Club also urged the GFA to thoroughly investigate the matter and if possible report the conduct of Barreto to FIFA with the view of compelling the ex-Black Stars Coach to refund the money.

A statement issued by Ashford Tettey Oku, the Administrative Manager of the Club copied to the GNA Sports said the amount was part of the 60,000 dollars entitled the player for his ten months loan agreement with Al Nassr of Saudi Arabia, which was then being coached by Barreto.

The statement said that the two bodies, (Hearts and the GFA) are beneficiaries of the transfer money of the player; hence they owe it a collective responsibility to ensure that justice is done on the issue. Explaining further, the statement said Hearts entered onto a 10 months loan agreement with Al Nassr club of Saudi Arabia for the transfer of Coleman with effect from August 2005.

It said aside the 50,000 dollars entitled Hearts, which the club received and paid 5,000 dollars of it to the GFA as their 10 per cent share, the player entered into a personal contract, which entitled him to 60,000 dollars for the 10 months period.

The statement said Coleman claimed that upon signing for the money, Barreto who was then handling Al Nassr collected the money from him under the pretext of paying it to Hearts.

Hearts have however denied receiving any money from Barreto in respect of Coleman's transfer and that it was only the transfer fee that was paid directly by the Club.

The Club said that it is not within its policy to deal with individuals but rather deal on club-to-club levels only.

The statement said it was later on that Barreto gave Coleman 10,000 dollars as a loan, an amount the player is yet to repay.

The Club said from the look of things, it is obvious that Barreto has unjustifiably enriched himself by pocketing Coleman's 50,000 dollars.