NSC seizes 50 million cedis for damaged chairs

... Big lose For Hearts of oak
... No lose For Kotoko The National Sports Council (NSC) has slashed 50 million cedis off the total earnings at the gates from Sunday's match at the Accra Sports Stadium between Hearts of Oak and Kumasi Asante Kotoko to cover the cost price and fixing of 250 chairs damaged by fans during the encounter.

Irate fans ripped off plastic chairs mostly from the May 9 Stand and threw them onto the tartan tracks, causing pandemonium after referee Essel Walker, a FIFA badge had awarded a dubious goal against Hearts on 60 minutes. The incident held up play for well over 10 minutes.

Dr Emmanuel Owusu Ansah, Acting Chief Executive of the NSC said the deductions were made from the gross earnings of 598 million cedis before the overhead cost was removed so that it will affect the shares of all stakeholders.

He said it was the responsibility of the NSC to ensure that state property is protected and if the chairs were damaged in a match, revenue from that match should replace them.

The Acting Chief Executive advised clubs to educate their supporters to exercise restraint even under the greatest provocation, as rioting will not provide solutions to their agitation.

He called on people charged with the responsibility of adjudicating in sporting events to endeavour to be as fair and transparent as possible in the best interest of sports development.

The premiership formula for the share of gate earning allows the home team to take 80 percent of the net proceeds while the NSC takes 10 percent, with the remaining 10 percent going to the Ghana Football Association and the Ghana League Clubs Association.

Overhead costs in organising matches including the printing of tickets, security charges and remuneration for miscellaneous services are deducted before the money is shared. The visiting team has no share at all from the gate earnings.