Black Stars rejected FIFA bailout to pay appearance fees - Nyantakyi

Not even FIFA could get the Black Stars players to back down on their non-negotiable demand and collective stubbornness to take $100,000 in cash, the World Cup Commission has heard Wednesday.

Ghana Football Association President Kwesi Nyantakyi, told the Justice Dzamefe Commission of Inquiry investigating a disastrous World Cup campaign that, the GFA had to call on FIFA for a “bailout” after the players threatened to abandon training for their last game against Portugal in Brazil last June.

This stance forced a two-hour flight delay, a situation which incurred the displeasure of FIFA. The world football governing body demanded an explanation from the FA with threats of disciplinary action against Ghana if the response was unsatisfactory.

“We had to tell FIFA what the problem was”, he said.

The FA explained that the delay was because of player agitation over the payment of appearance fees which government had failed to pay after several promises.

The players had refused to train despite President John Mahama's intervention and assurance that the money was on its way, escalating the matter beyond everyone else in camp and in Ghana.

According to the GFA president, his request for FIFA to pay $2.3million for the 23 players was accepted. FIFA only required that the players provide their copies of their contracts and details of their account numbers.

It was flatly refused. It had to be cash and nothing else.

“The players rejected it. They said they wanted cash”, he said.

The beleaguered GFA president relayed their uncompromising verdict to FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke.

Jerome responded saying although he sympathized with the GFA president's predicament, he was unable to pay cash in Brazil otherwise “they will cut my head off.”

The players had earlier rejected the use of Unibank master cards as a mode of payment after the first attempt failed at the ATMs.

Out of options and hijacked by the players' demand, the GFA was hapless and helpless as the players dictated the tempo of every negotiation until that resulted in the money being flown in to Brazil from Ghana.

The airlifting of cash to Brazil grabbed international headlines. Ghana's international disgrace was complete after the players, stashed with cash, put up a woeful performance against Portugal.

Ghana was knocked out after 15 days in Brazil.
  Story by Ghana|Myjoyonline.com|Edwin Appiah|[email protected]