The GFA Disciplinary Committee has dismissed charges against Great Olympics head coach Kassim Ocansey, Daniel Appiah (player) and goalkeepers coach Cudjoe A. Agyaben who were all charged in respect of their First Capital Plus Premier League match against WAFA at the Sogakope Park on 25 January, 2015.
They were all charged for insulting and threatening the Referee after the said match, thereby compelling the Security Personnel to intervene and detain the match official on the field for about ten (10) minutes before ushering him to the dressing room, conduct which is violation of Articles 56 and 58 of the GFA Disciplinary Code and Article 35(1)(b) of the GFA General Regulations.
However in their Statements of Defence they all pleaded not guilty to the charge and requested a personal hearing to defend themselves.
The Committee examined the depositions in the Charge Sheet, the Statement of Defence, the oral evidence of Mr. Kassi M. Ocansey, Daniel Appiah, Cudjoe A. Agyaben and the GFA Prosecutor, the reports of the match officials and the official video of the said match.
The Committee watched the official video of the match and at no time were any of the three seen anywhere close to the Referee on the field of play after the match. This is a personal liability charge and accordingly, the Committee held the view that for the charge to succeed, the accused must clearly be seen and identified as the very person who committed the offence.
In the circumstances, the Committee was satisfied that the three staff of Great Olympics had not breached Articles 56 and 58 of the GFA Disciplinary Code and Article 35(1)(b) of the General Regulations of the GFA.
DECISIONS
1. The Disciplinary Committee having satisfied itself that the evidence adduced before it does not support the charge of misconduct against Mr. Daniel Appiah, hereby dismisses the charge against him.
2. The Disciplinary Committee having satisfied itself that the evidence adduced before it does not support the charge of misconduct against Mr. Cudjoe A. Agyeben, hereby dismisses the charge against him.
3. The Disciplinary Committee having satisfied itself that the evidence adduced before it does not support the charge of misconduct against Mr. Kassi M. Ocansey, hereby dismisses the charge against him.
4. That any party dissatisfied with or aggrieved by this Decision has within three (3) days of being notified of this Ruling to appeal to the Appeals Committee (See Article 37(11) of the General Regulations of the GFA).