The Courts of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) has reportedly lifted the ban on 21 players involved in the Ashantigold and Inter Allies match-fixing scandal.
This was after an appeal was filed on the players’ behalf by the Federation International des Association de Footballeurs Professionals (FIFPRO) through the Professional Footballers Association of Ghana (PFAG).
The Disciplinary Committee of the Ghana Football Association demoted AshantiGold and Inter Allies to the lower tier leagues after being found guilty of match manipulation following a hilarious 7-0 scoreline between the two teams on matchday 34 of the 2020/21 league campaign.
This decision also led to a ban on some 24 players on both sides who allegedly played some roles in the offense committed.
Both clubs, Ashantigold and Inter Allies filed appeals but the Disciplinary Committee of the GFA dismissed them leaving the decision to stand.
But a statement from CAS and signed by deputy President of the Appeals Arbitration Division, Elisabeth Steiner, said the ban placed on all the embattled players has now been “lifted with immediate effect,”
This means the 21 players including Frank Akoto, Eric Esso, Amos Kofi Nkrumah, Empem Dacosta, Paul Devries Asare, Amos Addai, Stephen Owusu Banahene, and Messrs Alex Aso, have been set free until the cost of the present order is determined in the final award of CAS.
The rest are; Felix Abuska, Mohammed Zakari, Shaibu Taufiq, Fard Ibrahim, Richard Acquaah, Kwame Moses, Isaac Opoku Agyemang, Solomon Afriyie, Mohammed Bailou, Emmanuel Owusu, Samed Mohammed, Abdul Kadir Mohammed, and Isah Ali.
Meanwhile, Kumasi Asante Kotoko’s Richmond Lamptey name was not captured in the appeal process because his case is currently being considered by CAS following his club’s application.
Below is the full statement:
