The Porcupine Warriors have revealed that they will not terminate the contract of their midfielder despite his involvement match fixing
Asante Kotoko have released a statement to back their underfire midfielder Richmond Lamptey despite been implicated in a match fixing scandal.
During the 2020/21 Ghana Premier League season, Inter Allies lost 7-0 to Ashanti Gold on final day as the club went on relegation. However, it was later revealed that the match was fixed as the two clubs decided on a correct scoreline of 5-1 only for Allies captain Hashmin Musa to score two own goals to destroy everything.
Richmond Lamptey played in that game and although he recently joined Asante Kotoko as a free agent, Ghana FA has found him guilty of playing part in the scheme of work during the scandal.
“On 17th July 2021, Ashantigold SC played Inter Allies FC in the 2020/21
Ghana Premier League match day 34 game at the Obuasi Len Clay
Stadium. After the match, there were several reports within the local and
international football space that the match was fixed to fulfill a correct scoreof 5 goals to 1 in favor of Ashantigold SC. The match eventually ended in 7 goals to 0 against Inter Allies FC,” a Ghana FA statement read.
“A video extract of the match circulated on various social media platforms
showing a player of Inter Allies FC scoring two own goals. The video also
showed a lackluster attitude of players on the field of play.
Sportradar, a Swiss based international company‟s fraud detection system,
a unique service that identifies betting related manipulation in sports
globally for a huge number of leagues through its vast amounts of data
reported that there was strong pre match betting and telltale signs of fraud
on the said match.
The GFA investigated the matter and in accordance with Article 34(5) of the
GFA Premier League Regulations referred Inter Allies FC to the
Disciplinary Committee.
CHARGES
Inter Allies FC was charged on two counts.
Count one. The Club was charged for a breach of Article 34(5)(a) of the
Premier League Regulations (2019) for instigating, commanding, and counselling its players to play a fixed match or match of convenience
between Ashantigold SC and Inter Allies FC to achieve a result in favor of
Ashantigold SC, an act which the club knew or ought to have known at the
time of engaging in it to be contrary to the Premier League Regulations of
the Ghana Football Association.
Count two. The Club was charged for a breach of Article 34(6)(d) of the
GFA Premier League Regulations, (2019) that both teams did act together
with a common purpose to manipulate the match to achieve a desired
result, an act which brought the game of football into disrepute.
The following players and officials of Inter Allies FC were charged for
breaching Article 34(5)(a) of the GFA Premier League Regulations.
PLAYERS CHARGED
Players charged on one count for breaching Article 34(5)(a) of the GFA
Premier league regulations(2019):
Player Name
Jersey Number
Mohammed Zakari
10
Richard Acquaah
27
Shaibu Taufiq
9
Felix Abuska
29
Players charged on two counts for breaching Article 34(6)(d) of the GFA
Premier league regulations,2019 and Article 26(1) & (2) of the GFA Code of Ethics,2019.
Player Name
Jersey Number
Richmond Lamptey
8
Fard Ibrahim
3
However, Kotoko believe the player could be exonerated and therefore stand by him in his troubles unless otherwise.
“The attention of the Club has been drawn to a decision of the disciplinary committee of the Ghana Football association banning its player, Richmond Lamptey for a period of thirty (30) months,” a club statement read.
“The alleged misconduct of the player is said to have occurred at the time he played for Inter Allies FC.
“The Player was charged by the GFA at the beginning of the 2021/2022 football season, at a time the Club had signed on the Player. The Club supported the Player through the prosecution process and would continue to lend its support to the Player at this time until finality is brought to the matter,” the statement added.
