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Division One League side Bibiani Gold Stars have been handed a ban of ten home matches as well as a fine of GHC15,000 for beating a referee in their clash with Elmina Sharks. 

Bibiani Gold Stars FC was charged with three (3) counts as per the Charge Sheet.

On the first count, Bibiani Gold Stars FC was charged for the behaviour of the club’s supporters when on the 38th of the match, the Assistant Referee 1 flagged for an offside, the supporters threw stones at the assistant referee with one of the stones hurting him in the process which resulted in a 19 minute hold up of play in violation of Articles 52, 58 and 59 of the Disciplinary Code and Articles 35(3)(b), 35(4), 35(7)(d) and 35(10) the GFA General Regulations.

On the second count, Bibiani Gold Stars FC was charged for the behaviour of the club’s supporters during the half time period of the match, the supporters and officials invaded the inner parameter, beat up the match officials, vandalized the match Commissioner’s table and the away team’s equipment and destroyed the cameras belonging to the First Digital TV which resulted in about thirty (30) minutes hold up of play in violation of Articles 52, 58 and 59 of the Disciplinary Code and Articles 35(3)(b), 35(4), 35(7)(d) and 35(10) the GFA General Regulations.

On the third and final count, Bibiani Gold Stars FC was charged for the behaviour of the club’s supporters and officials when immediately after the referee whistled for the end of the match, the supporters and officials of the club attacked the match officials physically and verbally causing bodily harm to them resulting in the match officials being injured and being held hostage for over one (1) hour before the security reinforcement could rescue them out of the park in violation of Articles 56, 58 and 59 of the Disciplinary Code and Articles 35(2), 35(4), 35(7)(d) and 35(10) of the GFA General Regulations.

Bibiani Gold Stars FC in its Statement of Defence, signed by the club’s Administrative Manager, Kwasi Adu, pleaded guilty to the three charges and prayed the Disciplinary Committee to plea of leniency.

After the DC examined all the evidences available as well as a video in which the match officials were being beaten, Gold Stars have been fined GHC15,000 for damaging equipment of the away team as well as cameras of broadcast sponsors of the league, First Digital TV.