'Fans To Blame For Gyan's Exit'

Ghana midfielder Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu is blaming the decision by striker Asamoah Gyan to quit the Black Stars, on the intolerable attitude of some fans and has thus asked Ghanaians to learn how to appreciate their stars.

Gyan informed the Ghana FA last Friday night he wanted an international break following intense abuses suffered at the hands of fans after he missed a penalty in the semi-final defeat to Zambia.

Badu believes the UAE-based striker has been compelled to prematurely put his international career on break due to the barrage of unconstructive criticisms.

“The insults are too much. Ghanaians don’t appreciate his efforts. He is our leading scorer so this is very bad news for Ghana,” the Udinese ace told footy-ghana.com.

“It was just one missed penalty, but the insults on him and his family were too much.”

“ He is not the first player to miss a penalty. There has been some world greats who also missed crucial penalty kicks but the way Gyan has suffered at the hands of fans since 2008 has become so unbearable.

“ You should have seen some of the comments on facebook, twitter and other social networks, it was simply disgusting. He is a key player and we will all want the GFA to talk to him to rescind his decision, but fans must also know their limit with the way they criticise. It should not be a hate campaign,” the midfielder who is still recovering from an injury he sustained during CAN 2012 said.

Gyan made his Ghana debut as a 17-year-old in 2003 and is the Black Stars leading scorer with 28 goals in 59 matches.

The 26-year-old - who also missed what would have probably been a winning penalty in extra-time against Uruguay in the World Cup quarter-finals - was blamed for the 1-0 defeat to Zambia and scored just one goal in the entire tournament.

'The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has received a letter from striker Asamoah Gyan announcing his decision to take a temporary break from the Black Stars,' said a GFA statement.

'Gyan is frustrated over the verbal abuse he has received since playing for the country at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations. The GFA is in talks with Gyan to urge him to reconsider his decision.'