Ghana Football Association (GFA) has revealed it has reported some Premier League players to the police over allegations that they bet against their own teams to lose games.
Allegations are rife that some players are involved in betting against their own team, a situation the GFA has described as “a very dangerous development in Ghana’s football.”
BA United have come under suspicion since the news broke. However, their captain Osei Lawrence has denied it. But their supporters and coach Mohammed Gargo feel the playing body is involved in football betting, even to the extent of placing a bet against the club.
“We have taken the necessary steps to arrest this canker, which we think if we don’t confront it at this stage it could go beyond our imagination,” Nyantakyi said at a press conference.
“So the security agencies have been notified to do the necessary investigations and then will bring all culprits involved to book.
“We must bear in mind that betting is not illegal… but it is not allowed for players to engage in betting.
“Players of clubs and club officials are not supposed to get involved in betting – but that is the kind of disturbing phenomenon that has started developing here and we are very very worried about that.
“So I can assure you the FA is taking the necessary steps to contain it.”
In another development, the Confederation of African football CAF has issued a strong warning to premier league footballers in Ghana and will engaged security forces to arrested players who involves in gambling, and betting .
This was made known to press men at the just ended executive committee meeting in Accra.
According Kwesi Nyantakyi, betting is a dangerous development in football, and necessary steps have been taken to arrest the new betting cancer.
He said spectators and fans can bet but football players are not allowed .Like with many professional soccer leagues, players and club officials in Ghana are not allowed to bet on games.
Meanwhile, BA United coach Mohammed Gargo has been he invited by the Ethics Committee of the Ghana Football Association to allegations that his players meddle in soccer betting.
According to the letter signed on March 11, 2015, the BA United boss is requested to appear before the Ethics Committee of the Ghana FA on Monday, March 16, 2015 at 3: 00 pm at the Football Association Secretariat to assist in investigations into the alleged players’ involvement in betting.
But former Black Stars midfielder Gargo said he will only appear before the Ghana FA’s Ethics Committee once the FA sends the letter directly to him and not through BA United.
The FA sent a letter to BA United on Wednesday for Gargo to appear before its Ethics Committee on Monday, March 16th to answer for an allegation he made against the players of the club that they have been involved in football betting, to the extent of betting away the fortunes of the struggling team.
Though he supervised BA United’s 2-1 loss to Wa All Stars at the Sunyani Coronation Park last Sunday, the former Udinese Captain does not consider himself the Head Coach of the Apostles of Power Soccer because he has not signed a contract with the club.
“I have not received any letter. I won’t pay attention to the GFA letter because I am not a BA United Coach, but if the letter is sent to me, then I will appear,” Gargo told Happy FM.
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