Dunkwa United fined GH¢1250 for misconduct

The GFA Disciplinary Committee has fined Dunkwa United GH¢1250 in respect of their GN Bank Division One League match against Deportivo.

The club was charged for refusing and preventing an accredited Cameraman of the Ghana Football Association James Atobrah to film the said match in violation of Article 35(1)(c) and 35(7)(d) of the GFA General Regulations.

DEFENCE
Dunkwa United in his Statement of Defence denied liability to the charge and but did not waive their right to personal hearing to defend the charges against the club.

PROCEEDINGS AND FINDINGS
The Committee therefore invited Dunkwa United to the hearing to defend itself. The Committee examined the depositions in the Charge Sheet, the Statement of Defence, the oral evidence of both Dunkwa United and the GFA Prosecutor, the reports of the match officials and the official video of the said match.

In his oral evidence, Dunkwa United explained that its attention was drawn to an encounter between their supporters and the cameraman near the official table at about 2:30pm. The club further stated that the supporters perceived that the cameraman had arrived with Deportivo FC to film the match.

According to the Statement of Defence signed by Dr. Mark Kurt Nawaane (Founder and Chairman of the club), management took a number of decisions because the club as well as the match officials did not know and did not expect a cameraman for the match. The club explained that it was too late in the day to educate the supporters before the beginning of the match after the Cameraman stated that he got a late notice.

Concluding Dunkwa United stated that it is a law abiding club and that under the circumstances its decision to escort and protect the cameraman was the best.

The Committee was clear in its position that the cameraman was one of the officials for any sanctioned match of the GFA. That as such once he or she shows his/her identity card to the Match Commissioner, it was not the responsibility or mandate of any of the clubs to decide that because he/she was not at the pre-match technical meeting he/she would not be allowed to perform his functions at the match.

The Committee is of the view that the GFA has the right to assign any cameraman to any match and the lack of notification to any of the teams can never be used as an excuse to prevent the filming of any match. Indeed, it is only when one of the clubs intends to film a match that their approval must be shown to the other club. It is important to note that at all material time before kick-off, the Match Commissioner is the one mandated to take decisions concerning the match.

The Committee is satisfied that Dunkwa United has breached the regulations of the GFA by refusing to allow an accredited Cameraman to film the match thereby denying the GFA and indeed, this Committee of the footage of the match and shall accordingly apply the necessary sanction against Dunkwa United in this respect.

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 against the Dunkwa United with respect to Article 35(1)(c) of the GFA General Regulations, hereby imposes a fine of Seven Hundred and Fifty Ghana Cedis (GH¢750.00) against Dunkwa United in accordance with Article 35(1)(c) of the GFA General Regulations.

2. That the Committee having satisfied itself that the evidence adduced before it supports the charge of misconduct against the Dunkwa United with respect to Article 35(7)(d) of the GFA General Regulations for escorting an accredited GFA cameraman out of the match venue without permission, hereby imposes a fine of Five Hundred Ghana Cedis (GH¢500.00) against Dunkwa United in accordance with Article 35(1)(c) of the GFA General Regulations.

3. That the fines mentioned in Decision 1 and 2 above, shall be paid to the GFA within fourteen (14) days upon receipt of this Ruling, failing which Dunkwa United 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 to the GFA General Regulations.

4. 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).