Ghana defender Pantsil arrested over wife assault - wife wants hubby released

Published on: 22 February 2013

Ghana defender John Pantsil has been arrested by the East Legon Police in Accra on allegation of assaulting his wife on Friday but the wife has denied the Black Stars player stabbed her.

Richlove Paintsil is asking the East Legon Police to release her husband from custody at the police station in the leafy suburb of Accra to ensure that they resolve their differences at home.

The couple have been reported to be arguing over the past few days after a fan told some radio stations that the defender bedded a prostitute at the Africa Cup of Nations tournament in South Africa.

Even though the defender and the Ghana Football Association have strongly denied that players of the Black Stars engaged the services of prostitutes during the tournament, radio stations have continued to carry the allegation made by a fan called Appiah Stadium.

This resulted in an altercation that led to the allegation of assault that attracted the attention of neighbours, who called in the police to arrest the defender.

Richlove was sent to the hospital where she was being observed by doctors following the incident but has been released.

The wife of the defender has visited the police station asking the officers to release her husband so that they can solve their differences.

"We had a misunderstanding but this is nothing beyond the two of us to solve. I am going to the police station to have the matter resolved," Richlove Paintsil told GHANAsoccernet.com.

"I respect my marriage and I want us to resolve this at home between the two of us. I am fine and have no issues at all."

The couple who have three kids have been happily married for years but the allegation of engaging prostitutes, which has been heavily denied by the player and the GFA, looked to have brought a strain on their relationship.

The issue has also brought into sharp focus the way unsubstantiated allegations are carried on several radio stations in Ghana without evidence which has damaged the reputation of several players and officials of football in the country.

Paintsil had already threatened to sue Appiah Stadium and some of the radio stations who have carried the allegation of the supporter without asking him to substantiate his claim.

It is well known that the Ghanaian camp was heavily guarded by the South African national special security forces as well as operatives for Ghana's national security office.

There officials were placed to monitor the players 24-hours a day yet Appiah Stadium made his claims.

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