No One Can Stop Taylor’s Transfer

The management of Asante Kotoko says there is no way Accra Hearts of Oak can block Charles Taylor's transfer to a Qatari club. This is because no court of law will restrain Taylor in his desire to pursue a professional career outside the shores of Ghana.

Mr Kwame Boafo, solicitor to the Asante Kotoko board, made this assertion in an interview with the Graphic Sports yesterday.

According to Mr Boafo, it is strange how Hearts are trying to get Taylor entangled in a matter that is solely between the two clubs.

He described Hearts' demand that the FA enforces the directives on the player's transfer to Kotoko as absurd because Hearts have so far been "selecting and choosing" aspects of the FA's directives that must be enforced, while they have ignored the directive that they refund ¢850 million to Kotoko and Taylor.

The board solicitor said Kotoko have not received any letter from the FA in respect of Hearts' demand for the enforcement of directives, noting that is an implied admission by the football governing body that there is no merit in Hearts' demand.

Mr Boafo siad Hearts want to be taken seriously and be seen to be fair, then the refund of the ¢850 million should constitute the starting point of discussions.

He stressed the need to respect the recommendations of the arbitration committees, based on which Hearts are obliged to refund the ¢850 million.

Mr Boafo made it clear that since Hearts were asked to refund the amount last year, it must logically attract interest."Kotoko won't cheat Hearts, so Hearts shouldn't cheat Kotoko", Mr Boafo said.

With regard to Hearts' demand for a forty percent share of Taylor's transfer fee from Qatar, the board solicitor was emphatic that Hearts were “counting their chickens before they were hatched.”

He disclosed that nothing has been finalized between Kotoko and the Qatari club that has expressed interest in Taylor and so found it amazing how Hearts are staking a claim to forty per cent of the transfer fee.

"Once Hearts comply with the directive to refund the ¢850 million, Kotoko will look at whatever documents Hearts have", he noted.Mr Boafo took exception to how Hearts have been pampered over the years and asserted that this explains why they flout express directives.

He said Hearts have sued the FA and wondered why the football governing body has not taken any action against Hearts in spite of FIFA's explicit stand on the violation of its rules and the penalty.

Mr Boafo recollected the penalty the defunct Accra Standfast paid for committing the same offence. He referred to a FIFA reminder in February 2004 to member countries about sanctions and prohibitions regarding clubs taking their associations to court.

Mr Boafo said it is out of respect for FIFA rules that Kotoko have not taken Hearts to court as directed by the FA because of the certainty of linking the FA to the suit since it was it was FA that paid the money to Hearts.

Mr Boafo contended that if the FA was serious about getting Hearts to refund the ¢850 million to Kotoko, there were so many channels open to it to ensure the enforcement of the directive.