Sports News of Friday, 23 February 2018

Source: ghanasoccernet.com

Phar Rangers takes GFA to CAS

President of Phar Rangers, Nana Yaw Amponsah President of Phar Rangers, Nana Yaw Amponsah

The Ghana Football Association can't eventually heeved a sigh of relief after an Accra High Court threw out Great Olympics' application for an interlocutory injunction on the Premier League as aggrieved Division One League campaigners Phar Rangers FC get set for the Court of Arbitration for Sports in Switzerland over what they describe as 'attempts by the FA's judicial bodies to frustrate them.'

The troubled DOL side could throw the entire league season including the Ghana Premier League into a complete disjointed order with their decision to go to CAS as the judicial bodies of the Ghana FA attach little or no relevance to their grievances.

Despite finishing 12th on the Zone Three table of the 2016/17 Division One League, Phar Rangers have been declared relegated to the Eastern Region Division Two League with Okyeman Planners who finished 13th earning a slot to maintain their status in the DOL.

Okyeman Planners won a protest against relegated Okwawu United for failing to pay a fine after their week 29th clash.

Ghanasoccernet.com understands that Phar Rangers are legally fighting for their status in the DOL to be restored arguing that since Okwawu United failed to pay their fine before their week six DOL clash, they lose all points in their matches from week 7 to week 30.

Phar Rangers are with the conviction that some unknown hands are trying to manipulate the system to favour Okyeman Planners who are, by their position, relegated to the Division Two League after finishing 13th on the table.

The dramatic turn of events in the Zone 3 of the DOL has greatly been influenced by the the relegation of Tema Youth and Great Olympics from the Ghana Premier League into the zone, pushing four clubs out instead of the usual last three clubs who go by default.

Insiders at Phar Rangers have told Ghanasoccernet.com that it took the Disciplinary Committee 48 days to respond to Phar Rangers' protest with a flimsy excuse that they have no jurisdiction over the case.

Phar Rangers filed an appeal at the Appeals Committee about 40 days ago and reports are that the committee is yet to respond to the case despite over 11 reminders from Phar Rangers.

The determined leadership of Phar Rangers, whose president is an astute sports lawyer, has vowed to wait patiently for the verdict of the Appeals Committee, exhaust the jurisdiction of the Review Committee, and will proceed to CAS if still unsatisfied with the decisions of both committees.

What is scary about the position of Phar Rangers in relation to their claim is the fact that they vowed to ensure the league restarts no matter when the decision of CAS will be delivered as they claim the world body will surely be the final adjudicator with the lackadaisical manner the legal bodies of the FA are handling their case.