Otumfuo directs Kotoko to call off court action

Asante Kotoko’s owner Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has directed the club’s board to refrain from any court action against the Ghana FA over their lost protest to Hearts of Oak.

According to multiple sources, the club’s owner impressed on the top hierarchy of Kotoko upon being notified of the consequences a court action might have ultimately on Ghana football.

Kotoko officials were set to seek a court injunction to restrain the GFA from organizing the final round of matches in the First Capital Plus League.

The injunction was meant to give the Appeals Committee of the GFA ample time to hear Kotoko’s case in their attempt to reverse a decision taken by the Disciplinary Committee to dock them points.

Kotoko were ruled to have infringed on the laws governing football for the use of Obed Owusu in their Week 25 Premier League fixture against Hearts of Oak.

Owusu, per the Disciplinary Committee’s ruling was unqualified to have played that game as he was supposed to have served a mandatory suspension over accumulated cautions.

The rank and file of the Kumasi-based giants, infuriated by the decision were considering several options available to overturn this decision.

And aside launching an appeal to the decision at the GFA, insiders say they were also considering going to the ordinary court to seek an injunction on the league.

Kotoko want their appeal heard before the final round of matches due to the decision’s likely impact on the league standings.

But processes for the appeal to be held are yet to be exhausted – meaning the final round of Premier League matches must go ahead nevertheless.

An injunction was thus the only option available to Kotoko to push their agenda but this option appears to have been taken away by their owner.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II is a known godfather to Ghana FA President Kwesi Nyantakyi who is rumoured to have placed the call to Manhyia to seek a termination of the planned court action by Kotoko officials.

There are even rumours that the Executive Committee ambitions of Kotoko General Manager Opoku Nti was also used as a bargaining chip.

Rumour has it he has been assured of a place on the national executive committee of the GFA once the plan to go to court is aborted with some few days to the elections.