Match-fixing Case: Court Free Isah Ali, Subjects Ghana FA To Pay Remo Stars Defender 267k

Match-fixing: Court Free Isah Ali, Subjects Ghana FA To Pay Remo Stars Defender 267k

Ibrahim Lateef 

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has absolved Remo Stars defender Isah Ali and 21 others from an alleged match-fixing scam in a Ghana League game between AshantiGold SC and Inter Allies FC two seasons ago, and fined the Ghana FA an amount to the tune of 9,300 Swiss Francs after ruling in favour of the players, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

Isah Ali was on the payroll of Inter Allies FC when the alleged incident happened, as the game ended 7-0 to AshantiGold at the Len Clay stadium in Obuasi.

The Nigerian and 21 others were subsequently banned by the GFA's Disciplinary Committee.

The CAS Arbitral Award, issued on Thursday, July 27, 2023, supports the players' appeals against the GFA Appeals Committee's decision issued on July 13, 2022.

According to the Arbitral Award, the appeals of the 22 listed players, including the Nigerian, Alex Aso and Richard Lamptey, were upheld, resulting in the annulment of the sanctions previously imposed on them by the GFA. As a result, the players' participation in the 2022/23 football season was allowed by the GFA after the CAS granted a provisional measure (STAY) in fully assisting the players to register for clubs of their choosing.

The GFA was further ordered by CAS to contribute CHF300 (about 267,000 Naira) to the Remo Stars centre-half and each to the 20 players (1st Applicants) and CHF 3,000 to Richard Lamptey (2nd Applicant) to cover legal fees and other expenses related to the CAS proceedings.

While the Arbitral Award dismisses all other claims or prayers for relief filed by the players, the GFA fully complies with the decision in relation to the 22 players accordingly.