Hearts of Oak have decided to boycott the SWAG awards over the exclusion of defender Reuben Gnagne from their nominations.

The Ivorian import was initially amongst the nominees for the Premier League Player of the Year category which will be awarded by broadcasting giants SuperSports.

Gnagne’s name was however nowhere to be found when the final nomination list was announced for the awards ceremony which will take place at the State Banquet Hall in Accra on Saturday.

The Phobians are suspecting foul play over Gnagne’s drop and have thus decided to boycott the event.

“I received a call from Hearts that they are withdrawing their participation in the awards night and I think it’s very unfortunate,” SWAG General Secretary, William Ezaa, told GHANAsoccernet.com.

“Yes, Gnagne was initially nominated but then the process had not ended. And therefore dropping him from the final nomination ought not to be a surprise. “Nominations are done through a process where you will have initial nominations and then a final cut and he [Gnagne] didn’t make the cut.

“Hearts of oak have had the privilege of winning the Premier League Player of the Year award when Obed Ansah won it a few years ago.

“Mahatma Otoo has also won it before and therefore it is very unfortunate that they have decided to boycott the event after the final cut was made,” he added.

The awards are an annual event organized by the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) to reward deserving personalities in a calendar year.

Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah is gunning for the flagship Sports Personality of the Year award following his historic qualification to the 2014 World Cup with the Black Stars.