Ghana risks international ban over World Cup commission - Fifa warns

Published on: 08 August 2014
Ghana risks international ban over World Cup commission - Fifa warns
FIFA says the commission could lead to the banning of Ghana

Ghana risks an international ban if the country conducts a government-ordered Commission of Enquiry into its World Cup campaign, Fifa has said.

FIFA says an international ban will be imposed if the government's enquiry into the Black Stars turbulent World Cup campaign wades into the team's management.

FIFA also warned that the findings of the Ghana government's Commission of Enquiry which results in changes to the local FA (GFA) would result in a ban.

The inquiry, which is set to start on Monday, was set up by the government to investigate how the team prepared for the tournament in Brazil, the team's management and its organisation.

But football’s world governing body has warned that this contravenes its policy on governmental interference in the running of a national association.

"These are issues strictly in the competence of GFA. Thus the competent body to discuss these issues should be the GFA Congress and not any outside body,” said the Fifa letter, signed by Deputy Secretary General Markus Kattner published by the BBC.

“We would like to remind you that all Fifa member associations have to manage their affairs independently and without influence of any third parties."

Ghana had a disastrous campaign where over US$3m had to be flown to Brazil to pay the players, two of whom were latter thrown out of camp for indiscipline leading to the government enquiry.

But FIFA, which fiercely protects the independence of its member associations, says such investigations must stay away from seeking to make changes to the administration of the game in the country.

In the past, such sanctions have involved international suspensions from all forms of football for governmental interference – with Fifa in no doubt as to how that situation may be developing in Ghana.

“Should any decision be rendered by the Commission against GFA officials thereby removing them from office, it would be considered as interference in the GFA affairs and the case would be brought to Fifa’s highest instances for appropriate sanctions,” the letter addressed to GFA General Secretary Emmanuel Gyimah reads.

“We refer to the power that the Commission would have to remove any member of the Executive Committee of the President of the GFA in case of adverse findings.

“We are confident that you will reach an understanding with the Commission and that you will collaborate as long as the autonomy of the GFA is respected.”

After Ghana failed to qualify for the knock-out stages of a World Cup for the first time in the Black Stars’ history, the Commission was established to probe the preparations, ‘possible lapses, as well as management decisions and other ‘matters of public interesting concerning … Ghana’s participation’.

Despite holding eventual champions Germany to a creditable 2-2 draw in Fortaleza, the four-time African champions were eliminated after losing their opener to the United States and to Portugal in their final game.

The 2-1 loss against Portugal in Brasilia came just hours after Sulley Muntari and Kevin-Prince Boateng’s expulsions from camp.

KWESI APPIAH FUTURE

In a separate development, BBC Sport understands that the future of coach Kwesi Appiah will be determined by the GFA next week.

Under-fire following the troubled campaign, the first local coach to lead Ghana at a World Cup returned home after an extended holiday on Thursday.

Media reports have suggested that the GFA may wish to impose a technical director upon Appiah, a decision which needs to be addressed swiftly with the group stage of 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying less than a month away.

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