[ 2014-08-08 ]

Ghana faces possible FIFA sanctions
World football governing body, FIFA, has moved
closer to sanctioning Ghana over perceived
attempts by the government to interfere with the
autonomy of the Ghana Football Association (GFA).

This is contained in a second letter dispatched
from FIFA Headquarters in Zurich and sent to
Ghana.

The letter which kicks against moves by the
government to use the recently inaugurated
Presidential Commission to delve into issues which
border on the competence and autonomy of the GFA,
was signed by the Deputy General Secretary of FIFA
Markus Kattner and dated 7 th August, 2014.

“In particular, we take note of the terms of
reference of the Commission which are – 'to
inquire into matters relating to the preparation
of the Ghana Black Stars team for the tournament
and possible lapses which might have caused the
early exit of the team from the tournament; to
inquire into matters relating to the management of
the Ghana Black Stars team and events in their
camp during the tournament and; all other matters
of public interest concerning the organisation of
Ghana Black Stars' participation in the tournament
that is the FIFA World Cup 2014.

“These are issues which are strictly in the
competence of GFA. Thus the competent body to
discuss these issues should be the GFA Congress,
and not any outside body, FIFA contends.

“Moreover, we refer to the power that the
Commission would have to remove any member of the
Executive Committee or the President of the GFA in
case of adverse findings. In this regard, we would
like to remind you that all FIFA member
associations have to manage their affairs
independently and without influence of any third
parties as clearly stipulated in Articles 13 and
17 of the FIFA Statutes. Therefore and 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
higher instances for appropriate sanctions. ”,
the letter reads.

President John Mahama last month set up a three
member Presidential Commission to delve into the
factors that led to the first round elimination of
the Black Stars at the 2014 World Cup. The
commission was among others tasked with the
following terms of reference - “to enquire into
matters relating to Ghana's Black Stars team's
preparations for the tournament and possible
lapses therein which might have caused their early
exit from the tournament; to enquire into matters
relating to the management of the Ghana Black
Stars team and events in their camp during the
tournament; to inquire into matters relating to
Ghana's treatment of Ghanaian football fans who
were sent to support the Black Stars by the
Ministry of Youth and Sports and to inquire into
all other related matters of public interest
concerning the organization of Ghana's Black
Stars' participation in the tournament”

FIFA in its letter however reaffirmed its position
that Member Associations ought to account to their
national governments for the use of public funds
but indicated that since the GFA did not receive
public funds directly from the government, it was
inappropriate for government to seek accounts from
officials of the GFA

“According to the information that you have
provided to us in your letter dated 4 August 2014,
we understand that GFA does not receive public
funding for its work and that public funds
allocated to the national team are managed by
representatives of the government of the Republic
of Ghana. As such, the officials that would be
competent to account for the usage of public funds
do not appear to be those of the GFA. “

The current impasse threatens Ghana's
participation at the next African Cup of Nations
in Morocco as a sanction will prevent the nation
from taking part in the final qualifying phase for
the tournament which is scheduled to begin on 5 th
September against Uganda.

Any FIFA sanction will also affect all other
national teams participating in FIFA or CAF
organized competitions as well as Ghanaian club
sides who are scheduled to participate in the CAF
Champions League and the CAF Confederations Cup.

FIFA was confident however in the concluding
paragraph of its letter that the GFA will be able
to reach an understanding with the commission
which will respect the autonomy of the GFA and
urged the FA to keep FIFA updated on further
developments.

Source - MyjoyOnline

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