Accra, Sept 27, GNA - Accra Hearts of Oak Sporting Club has challenged the source of the powers of the Professional League Board in cancelling last week-end's friendly matches.

A statement signed by Mr Ashford Tettey Oku, Administrative Manager of the Club copied to the GNA Sports said as regards the laws of the game, the prerogative to sanction local and international friendly matches is unambiguously vested in the Ghana Football Association under (Article 6:2-7).

It said that under the laws that established the Professional League Board, (PLB) in Article 43 (12), a sub committee of the GFA is mandated to sanction friendly matches.

The statement continued that Hearts were prepared to call off the encounter in the name of solidarity with King Faisal for their Confederations Cup match or on technical reasons but not on the threats issued by the PLB that it would deal with clubs that does not obey their directives.

It said since it takes two to tango, Hearts would have gone ahead with the match against Feyenoord last Sunday had their opponents not buckled to the PLB threats at the last minute and pulled out of the friendly match.

"We at Accra Hearts of Oak were even prepared at the last minute to source for another club which was equally aware of its rights to play the friendly match regardless of any hollow threat to severely sanction us".

"We were not able to go ahead with the friendly last Sunday simply because we were not able to get a club considering the limited time at our disposal".

The statement added that Hearts is therefore not a Club that will allow its rights to be trampled upon from any quarters. It said the rationale for arranging the friendly encounter is not to spite any club but to ensure that the team was kept busy in this year's 'on and off' Premier League.

"It is truly the view of Hearts that the postponement of the 24th week matches was not only in solidarity with Faisal but also to avoid many outstanding matches at this crucial stage of the league" adding that the Club would however not accept any threats.