The Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) has issued a strong condemnation of the controversial events surrounding the Ghana Premier League (GPL) match between Dreams FC and Real Tamale United (RTU) held at Dawu on Wednesday, June 12th, 2024.
In a statement released Saturday June 15,2024, SWAG expressed deep concern over the circumstances that marred the match, highlighting that such incidents significantly undermine the efforts of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to maintain the integrity and reputation of the GPL.
SWAG drew parallels between the recent scandal and the infamous events of #12, which occurred six years ago and remain fresh in the collective memory of the Ghanaian football community.
The association noted that despite recent disciplinary actions by the GFA against clubs like Ashantigold and Inter Allies for match manipulation, it appears that lessons from past transgressions have not been learned.
The association particularly criticized RTU for transporting unregistered players over a long distance to Dawu, viewing it as a deliberate attempt to discredit the league.
SWAG highlighted that this scandal sheds light on deeper issues, such as the poor salary structure and remuneration of footballers, which do not meet the Club Licensing Regulations.
This financial neglect was cited as a likely reason behind the refusal of almost all registered RTU players to participate in the match.SWAG stressed that such criminal conduct is detrimental to the league’s attractiveness to sponsors, stating, “No serious corporate body would want to be associated with a tainted product.”
The association called for urgent action from the GFA to institute early warning signals to prevent similar incidents in the future.
In conclusion, SWAG urged the GFA to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter and ensure that those responsible are appropriately penalized. The association emphasized the critical importance of preserving the GPL’s integrity to maintain the league’s reputation and appeal.
Story by: Rafiq Abdulai