Ghana defender Paintsil released on bail, wife not pressing charges

Published on: 23 February 2013

Ghana defender John Pantsil was released by the Ghanaian police on bail on Friday evening after a neighbour accused him of assault and threatening language.

 This comes in the wake of a domestic altercation with his spouse Richlove Paintsil which attracted the neighbour who is now seeking to press charges against the right-back.

Ironically, Richlove who was the key actor in the incident at the affluent neighbourhood of East Legon, told police she wants their differences to be settled at home and did not level any charges against the player.

Richlove vehemently rejected a report that she was stabbed by the defender contrary to reports by a section of the Ghanaian press and was never unconscious.

Several members of the Ghana FA were at the Legon Police Station in Accra to offer their support to the family when news of the incident broke.

"John Paintsil has been released on bail following a charge against him by a neighbour," Ghana FA spokesman Ibrahim Sannie Daara told the press at the Legon Police Station.

"Mrs Richlove Paintsil did not press any charge against Mr John Paintsil and any misunderstanding between them will be solved at home.

"There was no stabbing whatsoever during the incident and no one was unconscious because of the incident.

"I am pleading with the press to be circumspect with their reportage as we have already seen some reports which are wide off the mark."

The couple has 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 was promptly released before she arrived at the police station to secure her husband's release.

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.

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website.
Learn more