FIFA’s Decision To Ban Kwesi Nyantakyi For Life Was Too Harsh – Rashid Pelpuo
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A former Ghanaian Sports Minister, Rashid Pelpuo is worried about FIFA’s decision to ban the former President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kwesi Nyantakyi for life.
Speaking on Citi TV’s Breakfast Daily, he said the punishment was too harsh.
Mr Nyantakyi has been banned from all football activities for the rest of his life and has been fined 500,000 Swiss Francs, for various breaches of FIFA’s code of ethics after he was exposed by investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas.
The former GFA President believes the punishment was “harsh and unfair”, and has served notice he will be seeking a review.
“Why was the fine even imposed? You’ve banned somebody for life and you also imposed a fine on him. Is it because Nyantakyi is a black man or what? You [Executives of FIFA] do all the big mistakes worldwide. This guy just made pronouncements which were not substantiated which have been described as influence peddling and in the end, you are judging him based on the remarks that were never implemented.”
“If they are offences we expect those offences to go commensurate with the kind of punishment that people would understand. I think that the punishment is too harsh,” he added.
He stated that it is in order for Nyantakyi to make an appeal through the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS).
“It’s good that Kwesi Nyantakyi is asking for a review,” he said.
A Deputy Information Minister, Pius Hadzide, who was also on the Citi Breakfast Show said the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) has completed its investigations into Mr Nyantakyi’s case, and will soon present a docket to the Attorney General.
“Things can be said about people and that doesn’t make the things true. And that we should use our God-given reasoning and logical deductions to come to a certain conclusion. Again they make the case that the police have abandoned the investigation. They have been caught flat-footed.”
“Now the police have announced that they have finished the investigations and that a docket is ready, and by the end of the week, it will be presented to the Attorney General for advice. People have also said that Nyantakyi is the president’s close confidante; I mean where is that coming from?”
Background
Mr Nyantakyi was first handed a 90-day provisional ban in June 2018, after the showing of a video and audio evidence of allegations of corruption levelled against him by investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas, in his piece titled, Number 12.
The suspension was further extended by another ninety days in September 2018, before the announcement of the lifetime ban on Tuesday.
The credibility of the Ghana Football Association, which manages all national football activities in the country has been dented by Anas Aremeyaw Anas’ investigative film which exposes massive rot and corruption in local football.