Sanction BA United - GFA urged

Obuasi, Sept. 17, GNA - Obuasi Goldfields have appealed to the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to strictly apply the necessary sanctions against Brong Ahafo United for various maltreatments they meted out to Goldfields players and officials during their 21st week Kinapharma Premier League match at the Sunyani Coronation Park last Sunday.

In a formal protest letter to the GFA signed by the Chief Executive, Captain Andy Sam and copied to the Chairman of Premier League Board (PLB), the Chairman, GFA Disciplinary Committee and the Chief Executive Officer of BA United, Goldfields maintained that officials and supporters of BA United misconducted themselves before, during and after the match.

"BA United supporters came into our resting place at the outskirts of Sunyani prior to the match and sprinkled urine and "pito" on our players and supporters while we were preparing for the match," it said. The protest letter said the bus, which was carrying the players and officials was prevented from entering the Coronation Park and for pretty 30 minutes and "our players and officials were heckled and beaten up in the presence of two policemen who just walked away without attempting to restore order."

"Our player, Valentine Atem who was not even playing was slapped and manhandled while our Assistant Physiotherapist, Ben Fosu was beaten up and attempts were also made by some supporters to snatch his watch," the protest stressed.

Capt. Sam said the home fans surrounded Goldfields players during the warm-up period and continuously taunted, intimidated and insulted them.

The protest further said Assistant Referees J.A. Obuobisa and J.K. Gomashie from Tema and Accra respectively were openly threatened by BA United officials during the course of the game by people including George Arthur, the Chief Executive Officer who positioned himself behind the near-side linesman and issued intimidating instructions.

The intimidating situation forced Referee J.K. Mortey of Tema to ignore a number of infringements against Goldfields, yet the referee ended up showing three yellow cards to "our players".