FIFA bans Ghana football boss for 90 days

BBC
BBC
Kwesi Nyantakyi was one of the officials highlighted in the film

Ghana football boss Kwesi Nyantakyi, a member of FIFA’s decision-making council, is under investigation for possible ethics violations and has been provisionally suspended for 90 days, FIFA said on Friday.

The ban was imposed one day after the Ghanaian government dissolved the country’s football association (GFA) after officials, including Nyantakyi, were shown in a documentary allegedly taking kickbacks.

Nyantakyi has not replied to multiple requests for comment while the GFA has said it would cooperate with any investigation.

He has been GFA president since 2005 and was elected to the FIFA council in September 2016.

Nyantakyi was filmed in a hotel room appearing to take a $65,000 bribe from a supposed businessman seeking to sponsor the Ghanaian football league.

Information Minister, Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, said in a statement on Thursday that government was shocked and outraged at the contents of the documentary and would refer the alleged culprits to the police for investigation.

FIFA has not yet commented on whether any action will be taken over the GFA’s dissolution.

The global soccer body does not accept any third party, including government, interfering in its member associations.

It could respond by suspending Ghana’s membership, which would mean the country’s national teams can no longer participate in international competitions.

Ghana missed out on the World Cup which starts in Russia on June 14.

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