"Kotoko Tried to Bribe Me" - Referee Essel

THERE WERE shocking and startling revelations when Tamale-based Class One referee J.D.K. Essel appeared before the Disciplinary Committee of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) on Thursday evening.

He told the Committee how Mr. Mohammed Haruna, a top management member of Kumasi Asante Kotoko, used the name of President J.A. Kufuor and Acting Chief Justice, Jutice Wiredu, to threaten him to testify against Hearts of Oak in the Charles Taylor yellow card saga.

According to Chronicle sources at the Disciplinary Committee, referee Essel revealed at the Committee's sitting that Haruna threatened him that his actions would be closely monitored by President Kufuor, an ex-Board Chairman of Kumasi Asante Kotoko, and Justice Wiredu, so he should testify in Kotoko's favour.

Essel also told the Committee how Mr. Kwadwo Nyarko, Kotoko's deputy Accra representative, approached him with ?10 million bribe to ensure the defeat of Hearts of Oak and ?5 million for a draw in their match against Obuasi Goldfields.

The Disciplinary Committee also heard how Alhaji Mukaila of Real Tamale United (RTU), acting on behalf of another top Kotoko management member, Mr.

George Amoako, induced Essel with a tempting parcel to again testify for Kotoko at the committee's sitting.

When Essel was asked whether he could identify Amoako, he reportedly fished him among the officials to back his claims Referee Essel said he was persuaded by the Ho-based Match Commissioner, Afdzie to alter his report and replace the name of Jacob Nettey in place of Charles Taylor by the Match Commissioner.

But the Match Commissioner denied the claim by Essel and stood his ground that he did not make any such move.

Following the revelations made by Referee Essel, the Committee could not give its ruling last Thursday but deferred it to tomorrow.

After the meeting, the Committee advised members of the two clubs and their lawyers not to issue any statements on the issue but the next day, Kotoko's official mouthpiece carried the story and gave a one-sided story which favoured the team, leaving the more serious ones such as the bribery allegations and the use of the names of President Kufuor and the Ag. Chief Justice to influence the outcome of the referee's testimony before the Committee.

'You don't throw stones when you live in a glass house', noted a foreign journalist who had been following the trend of affairs in Ghana soccer.

Most of your people who are parading as club administrators and talk about professionalism are joking, he noted.

'I would wish both the Office of the President and the Chief Justice investigated this case before it is too late', Mr. Eric Baffour, a businessman noted.