Maxwell Konadu gets two match ban

Asante Kotoko head coach Maxwell Konadu is on the verge of serving a two-match touchline ban after an alleged rant towards an assistant referee.

The Kotoko coach is alleged to have verbally assaulted assistant referee Badiu Ibrahim for 'ignoring' to flag an offside among other decisions against Berekum Chelsea midfielder Gladson Awako in their week 20 fixture which ended goalless. Maxwell Konadu was marched off by centre referee William Agbovi as a result.


As captured in the match's referee's report, Coach Konadu stands accused of labelling assistant referee Badiu Ibrahim a 'bastard' in a Wala language, a local dialect spoken by people from Wa in the Upper East Region of Ghana where the referee hails from.


This allegation is strongly denied by Konadu, who told footy-ghana.com that if he had used that particular word on the assistant referee, it would have resulted in far reaching consequences.


'I never used that word on him. I understand the Wala language very well and in that language, to call someone a bastard is a very serious thing. If indeed I had used that word on him, it would have resulted in something far worse than including it in a referee's report.'


Konadu also told footy-ghana.com that he rather told the assistant referee not to be silly.

'What I told the assistant referee was that he should not be silly or do anything stupid. That is what I said. I never called him a bastard.'


Footy-Ghana understands that the Asante Kotoko management at a meeting on Wednesday night, have resolved to accept the suspension after they were alerted of the impending ruling from the Premier League Board.


Should the club receive the ruling before Sunday, the Kotoko coach will sit out of the club's league matches against New Edubiase and Wassaman United in serving the ban. He will however make a timely return to face arch rivals Accra Hearts of Oak on April 15 at the Baba Yara stadium.


Konadu escaped punishment for for a similar misconduct with his antics and gestures from the Kotoko bench towards refereeing decisions in this season's opening league game with Tema Youth.