Hotsteel Team Manager Hamza Murtala fined GH¢500, banned for two matches

Mr. Hamza Murtala, Team manager of Hotsteel has been fined GH¢500 and handed a two-match for insulting and attacking the match officials after their GN Bank Division One League match against Danbort at Nungua.

His actions were deemed to have been in violation of Article 56 of the GFA Disciplinary Code and was charged with one (1) count.

DEFENCE
Hamza Murtala in his Statement of Defence pleaded not guilty to the charge and but did not request for a personal hearing to defend the charges against him and did not waive his rights to personal hearing.

He stated that he has “never insulted any official or referee”.

PROCEEDINGS AND FINDINGS
The Disciplinary Committee invited Hamza Murtala to its sitting on March 26, 2015 to further defend himself against the charge but he did not attend.

The Committee therefore examined the depositions in the Charge Sheet, the Statement of Defence, the oral evidence of the GFA Prosecutor, the reports of the match officials and the official video of the said match.

Article 56 of the Disciplinary Code provides that:
Article 56 “Any player, team or match official who insults another in any way, especially by using offensive gestures or language, or who violates the principles of fair play or whose behaviour is unsporting in any other way may be subject to sanctions in accordance with Article 10”.

The Disciplinary Committee was satisfied that Hamza Murtala's had rushed at and insulted the referee and that his conduct amounted to a breach of Article 56 of the GFA Disciplinary Code and shall accordingly apply the necessary sanctions against him in this respect.

It is worth noting that Clubs are when it comes to payment of fines clubs are jointly liable for fines imposed on its players and officials (see Article 15(b) of the Disciplinary Code of the GFA.

DECISIONS
The Disciplinary Committee makes the following decisions:

1. That the Committee having satisfied itself that the evidence adduced before it supports the charge of misconduct with respect to Articles 56 of the GFA Disciplinary Code against Hamza Murtala and hereby imposes

a. a fine of Five Hundred Ghana Cedis (GH¢500) against him in accordance with Article 10 of the GFA Disciplinary Code.

b. a ban from entering a stadium or park for two (2) matches commencing from the date of receipt of this Decision.

2. That the fine mentioned in Decision (1a) above, shall be paid to the GFA within fourteen (14) days upon receipt of this Ruling, failing which Hot Steel shall automatically forfeit all subsequent matches after the said deadline in accordance with Article 15(b) of the GFA Disciplinary Code and Article 39(8)(b) of the First Amendment of the GFA General Regulations.

3. That should any party be dissatisfied with or aggrieved by this Decision the party has within three (3) days of being notified of this Ruling to appeal to the Appeals Committee (See Article 37(11) of the General Regulations of the GFA).