The Ghana FA has handed a temporary home ban to Asante Kotoko following the violent incidents that occurred during the team’s Week 3 match against Berekum Chelsea in the Ghana Premier League.
Fans of the team were seen in various video clips hurling missiles onto the Baba Yara Stadium pitch to show their displeasure at a refereeing decision taken by centre referee, Charles Bulu.
The fans’ displeasure spilled into a massing up after the match and that led ultimately to a fan getting shot by a police officer. The fan is currently getting treatment at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital while the office who shot the fan has been interdicted by the Police Service.
The Ghana FA’s ban is rooted in Article 14 (2) of its regulations which talks about safety of match centres and the association says the ban is in place while it looks at a full determination of the matter.
Below is the statement from the Ghana FA:
Following incidents at the Baba Yara Stadium during Asante Kotoko’s Premier League match with Berekum Chelsea on Sunday, the GFA Executive Council has decided to temporarily ban Asante Kotoko from playing its matches at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium pending the adjudication of the matter by the GFA Disciplinary Committee.
The GFA Executive Council at its meeting on Monday, January 13, 2020, decided to trigger the provision of Article 14(2) of the GFA Premier League Regulations.
Article 14 (2) of the GFA Premier League Regulations states that: “the GFA may order the closure of any league centre/venue where the safety of clubs, match officials and/or spectators cannot be guaranteed.”
The GFA Prosecutor shall prefer charges against any person/party found to have breached any provision of the GFA Regulations or Disciplinary Code.