Bayern Munich defender and Ghanaian international, Samuel Osei Kuffour has apologised to Ghanaians for his behaviour towards Ethiopian referee during Ghana's World Cup qualifier against Sudan in Obdurman.

Sammy Kuffour stated that he did not have any problems with any member of the squad including the technical team but was angry and therefore questioned why some foreign-based players who were prepared to serve their nation were not allowed to come down for the match. "We had three goalkeepers and fifteen players, so one goalkeeper had to dress as a player and be on the bench, meanwhile Otto Addo wanted to come and play for the nation. I think if Otto had been invited to play, it would have strengthened the team rather than taking along a goalkeeper who was only on the bench. That's what made me a bit angry".

"I think I am one of the senior players in the team and all that Ghanaians saw in the game was between the referee and the Ghanaian players, everything was always in favour of the Sudanese. We scored a goal and he disallowed it, so I thought maybe being a senior player, I could go to the referee and ask him why he did that to us, it doesn't mean I wanted to beat up or kill the referee. I don't carry a gun on myself, I cannot beat the referee, I am so sorry for getting that angry. I was doing it in favour of Ghana, maybe some people don't understand me, its not a bad thing to ask the referee questions, most players do it, players of Barcelona and Real Madrid do it, they enquire from the referee when there is the need to." These were the words of Samuel Osei Kuffour in reaction to a question as to whether he attacked the referee.

He also added that he did not push him and neither did he punch him. "How can I punch the referee, if I punch the referee right now, it would be with FIFA to ban me since its on their rules. I didn't do anything against the referee, I was just talking to the referee" This was his response when asked if he beat up the referee.

"Let me first apologise to Ghanaians for what happened that I was so angry that I threw my hand at the fluorescent tube, I was so angry because of one or two things that happened on the field of play, so I am very sorry for what happened, I apologise to all Ghanaians".

When asked about why he together with other foreign-based players have been dropped from the squad against Nigeria, Kuffour said that "well it's all over the world that Cecil Jones Attuquayefio doesn't want the foreign-based players in his squad against Nigeria, its one of those things, it happens anywhere, maybe he doesn't want us to come and play because we don't know what happened. As for me, I am ready whenever I am called to serve my nation, I would come and play for Ghana. I love my country. If I don't love my nation , I wouldn't fly down from Moscow to Sudan after playing in the Champions League. I want to go to the World Cup and I would do anything to help my nation get there. Since 1991, I have always honoured national assignments.

Osei Kuffuor also denied allegations levelled against him that he branded Ghanaian journalist as not being paid well and being school dropouts whom he can pay. He said that, he is very sad about that and that it's the Ghanaian media which, has helped him reach his present height in football. "Some can be my fathers, uncles and brothers. Why should I insult the very people who have helped me to this level. God is my witness. I can't do that and would never do that. It is God who has brought me this far and after God it's the Ghanaian journalist, they've put my name on the highest level".

Kuffour added that he did not attend any high school and wondered how can he say such things against people who have been to school and are practicing this profession.

Finally, he sounded a word of caution about the absence of the foreign-based players in the set-up of Coach Jones, stating that, "if he doesn't want to use them today, what about tomorrow if Ghana should lose the game on Sunday. Will he call us to come over play, this is the question now."

"I wish them all the best on Sunday and again I am very sorry for what is going on between Ghanaian journalist and myself, they've helped me a lot. I have been very upset since my mum called me to find out what was going on."