Sports News of Saturday, 23 June 2018

Source: goal.com

Ghana government calms fears over international ban after meeting with FIFA

FIFA reps met with Ghana government yesterday FIFA reps met with Ghana government yesterday

The Ghanaian government is giving little away after Friday's meeting with Fifa over the standing football impasse in the country, but sports ministry communications director Elvis Adjei Baah says fears that Ghana would be banned from the game must be buried.

The sport has been brought to a standstill due to an indefinite suspension on all matches and a 10-day court injunction on the FA after a recent investigative documentary exposed corrupt and match-fixing activities of top officials and referees.

The deadlock necessitated a meeting between government and Fifa officials on Friday amid fears of a looming ban over "interference".

"What transpired at the meeting will be made known to Ghanaians at the appropriate time," Adjei Baah told Happy FM.

"Initially, we wanted to postpone the meeting but since Fifa's delegation were already in the country, we had to show them respect, so we held the meeting.

"The notion that Fifa will ban Ghana is out of the question here. It won't happen.

"The meeting was held between Fifa and government.

"No GFA official was present in the meeting."

The current 10-day court injunction is part of government's plans to "dissolve" the FA for a new order.

In the interim, a five-man committee has been set up to manage football in the country.

The unit will be chaired by renowned businessman Kofi Amoah, who was the chairman of the Local Organizing Committee for Ghana's hosting of the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations.

Former Black Stars captain Abedi Ayew 'Pele', ex-Ghana Internationale Osei Kofi and journalist and lawyer Eva Okyere are the other members of the committee.