John Paintsil says he has not been sacked by Hapoel Tel Aviv

John Pantsil claims he is still a player of Israeli side Hapoel Tel Aviv despite reports that he is surplus to requirements at the club.

The club’s spokesperson revealed that the experienced right-back was told to look for a new club before leaving for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.

Pantsil-who has three-months  left on his contract with the capital club-insists reports that he is being forced out of the club are wide off the mark.

According to the Ghana international, he is paying the cost for defying the club’s orders and playing at the Nations Cup in South Africa.

“The people (Hapoel Tel Aviv) actually told John that they needed him to stay and that if he went to the Nations Cup, they may not allow him to see through his contract,” the player’s spokesperson Ebenezer Aidoo said.

“He (John Paintsil) told them (Hapoel Tel Aviv) that he has a contract with them and at the end of the day it’s his obligation to go to the national team, so for the Nations Cup, he (Paintsil) will go and play.

“So it’s just politics they (Tel Aviv) are playing. We still have a contract with them.”

“John is still a player of Hapoel Tel Aviv, he has not been released so he is okay. The time they (Tel Aviv) gave him is almost up so he is going to join them,” he added.

Pantsil played nine matches for Hapoel Tel Aviv before the winter break.

He was recently involved in assault case after allegedly beating up his wife and a neighbour at his residence in Accra.

The 30-year-old is yet to join his teammates.