Four clubs handed a year`s ban

The Disciplinary Committee of the Ghana Football Association has handed a one-year ban to four division one clubs – Nania FC, Okwawu United, Great Mariners and Mighty Jets, for playing out mutually arranged games during the promotion league campaign in March 2007.

All four clubs were found guilty by the FA's judicial body after a long drawn out hearing held back by a series of legal suits filed by some of the clubs against the Ghana Football Association.

The four clubs – Mighty Jets, Great Mariners, Okwawu United and Nania FC appeared before the Football Association's panel in connection with the Zone III fixture results on the final day for promotion to the premiership which produced 59 goals involving the four teams on March 28.

Nania FC topped the group after they had incredibly beaten Okwawu United 31-0.

Okwawu United who before the game had crushed out of contention were down 0-1 by half time but back recess, the former premiership side picked the ball from the back of the net thirty times as Nania completed the rout.

Great Mariners in the other group fixture were just three goals shy of equalling that feat as they walloped Mighty Jets 28-0.

Aside serving their one-year ban, all the four clubs have been hit with a 5,000 GH cedis fine in accordance with Article 39, (4) (9) of the FA regulations.

After the completion of their one-year ban, all four clubs would return to play in the National Division One league.

The decision also affects 46 players whose names appeared on the team sheet of the four clubs and played a part in the games on March 28. All players have also been handed a year's ban with effect from the end of the season.

However club officials of the clubs escaped punishment.

All the clubs forfeit the matches and have been dogged three points each from their accumulated build up in the Zonal middle league.

The results of the matches have also been declared null and void and expunged from the FA's records in pursuant of Article 34 1 (i) and (7).