Nyantakyi wants referees to accept BRIBES

Nyantakyi says refs should accept bribes

The chairman of Ghana Football Association (GFA) Kwasi Nyantakyi has scored an embarrassing own goal by telling referees to accept BRIBES.

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The young lawyer also dealt a damaging blow to his own integrity by revealing that his friends, who own football clubs, freely give kickbacks to referee.

 
The gaffe, which was meant to urge referees to be fair in officiating, has ended undermining his position and his fitness for the post.

 
Ghana local league's image has been sullied by allegations of bribery and the statement from Nyantakyi has only endorsed that view as endemic.

 
In a shockingly awkward speech in Accra at a ceremony to reward the best referees, the boss of the country's governing body dug his own grave.

 
Nyantakyi said: “When the club owners bring the bribes please take it and be firm when you get on the pitch.

 
“When you do that they will not return to bribe you again because they know you will do the right thing.

 
“Some of my friends bribe the referees and come and tell me that they gave you money and when they win they say they influenced you.

 
“But in their away matches when they lose with you in charge their conclusion is that you were bribed whether you were fair or not.”

 
This statement has sparked fresh calls for Nyantakyi to quit his post to salvage the image of the game in the country.

 
His statement has been viewed in many quarters as his tacit approval for bribery in the game even though he clearly intended the opposite.

 
A Ghanasoccernet reader, Kwame Borkor, who listened to the speech on Peace FM said: “I am horrified by the statement from Nyantakyi.

 
“If the leader of the country's game says referees should take money why should we the fans go to the stadium.

 
“His statement is not clearly stopping the criminal activity since he knows happens as his friends bribe referees.

 
“I think Nyantakyi and all his friends in the game should be investigated.”

 
Nyantakyi is prone to gaffes in his interviews and unscripted speeches.