The Disciplinary Committee of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has fined Real Tamale United (RTU) FC GH¢100,000 due to their mishandling of a Matchday 28 fixture against Dreams FC.
The match, played at the Theater of Dreams in Dawu, saw RTU fielding unregistered players, resulting in serious consequences for the club.
In addition to the financial penalty, five RTU officials have been banned from all football-related activities for one year each.
The officials affected by the ban are Iddi Manzah Alhassan, Abdul-Samed Iddrisu, Abdul-Gafaru Salifu, Tanko Jentumah, and Sylvester Yaw Apanka. The bans are effective immediately.
The GFA Disciplinary Committee’s decision is based on a violation of Section 34(6)(d) of the GFA Premier League Regulations, which addresses conduct that discredits the game.
The Committee found that RTU’s actions, including fielding unregistered players who impersonated registered players, were intentional and deceptive.
RTU also failed to honor their final league match against Great Olympics, a crucial game in the 2023/24 Ghana Premier League season. The club, already relegated, faced an 8-1 defeat in the match, which raised concerns about the integrity of the game.
The club admitted to the charges but requested leniency, citing their dire situation. Reports indicated that RTU’s registered players refused to travel or participate due to unpaid salaries, leading the officials to field unregistered players in an attempt to fulfill the fixture.
The decision has caused a stir in the Ghanaian football community, particularly because of the significant scoreline and the circumstances of the match.
The GFA’s ruling underscores its commitment to maintaining the integrity of the sport and ensuring that all teams adhere to established regulations and standards.
