Hearts reject Taylor's compensation and gives GFA ultimatum

Accra, July 17,GNA - Accra Hearts of Oak Sporting Club Limited on Thursday, rejected the 650 million cedis compensation as a result of breach of contract by Charles Taylor, a player of the club. The club has also added that they would not accept Taylor's premature recission of his contract with the club.

In a statement signed and issued by Mr. Ernest Thompson, the Board Secretary of the club said the club would have no alternative than to seek legal redress from the law courts by the close of work on Monday, July 21, if the FA fails to provide answers to their early correspondence to it.

He said the GFA has failed to inform them on their position on the interpretations of FIFA's advice and the commencement of the ban on Taylor.

The Statement said the GFA also failed to provide answers on Kotoko's letter of apology, which they have rejected, the unilateral breach of contract and the Kotoko "yibi ma" fund raising for Taylor. Mr. Thompson said they were convinced that GFA is either not being sincere with Hearts or deliberately evading the issues to favour Asante Kotoko.

He referred to publications on July 17, in the Ghanaian Times and the Daily Graphic attributed to the General Secretary of the GFA , that implied that Taylor was granted a floating status after the ban. He said "we wish to make it crystal clear and in no uncertain terms that all the correspondence including that of the GFA dated July 16, 2003 do not either expressly or inferentially support the alleged assertion that Taylor becomes a floating player after the four month ban."

He stated that the clause "the player should be able to continue his career does not mean that the player becomes a floating player after the ban, adding that compensation cannot therefore mean transfer fee from another club.

Mr. Thompson emphasised that Hearts still have the right over the player even after the ban since the phrase "further compensation due to former club" does not give the player a new status of a floating player. He expressed surprise that the GFA in a letter to FIFA used the word, "new club" adding that it is obvious that FIFA would then describe Hearts as a former club.