Obuasi-based club, AshantiGold SC, has successfully obtained a court injunction to halt the start of the 2023/24 Ghana league season. This action comes after the club was suspended by the Ghana Football Association (GFA) at its recent Congress.
The suspension was imposed on AshantiGold due to their association with banned officials, Kwaku Frimpong and Emmanuel Frimpong, which violated both GFA Statutes and FIFA Statutes. The GFA’s Executive Council unanimously decided to suspend AshantiGold Sporting Club under Article 17(1) of the GFA Statutes.
Kwaku Frimpong and his son Emmanuel Frimpong were individually banned for 10 years and 8 years, respectively, by the GFA Disciplinary Committee for their involvement in match manipulations. These decisions were subsequently upheld by the GFA Appeals Committee.
Despite the ban, AshantiGold SC continued to engage with the Frimpongs, contrary to Articles 9, 13, and 16 of the GFA Statutes and the relevant provisions of the FIFA Statutes. As a result, the GFA suspended the club, leading to the loss of all membership rights and exclusion from participating in any football competitions, including the Ashanti Regional Football Association Division Two League.
In light of these events, AshantiGold has approached the court seeking a temporary hold on the start of the upcoming league season until the final resolution of their case. The injunction aims to prevent the commencement of the 2023/24 league season until the court reaches a decision.
This development adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing situation, as several clubs and stakeholders have had to navigate the legal implications resulting from AshantiGold’s suspension and subsequent legal actions. The GFA, along with all members, clubs, players, referees, and participants in football, are prohibited from engaging in any football-related activities with the suspended AshantiGold SC and the banned officials, as stated by both the GFA Statutes and FIFA Statutes.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the football community eagerly awaits the court’s decision on the injunction and the final resolution of AshantiGold’s case.
