GFA calls on FIFA to reject SAFA’s protest

22nd Nov 2021 | Source: GNA

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has called on the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) to dismiss a protest lodged against it by the South Africa Football Association (SAFA), after the World Cup qualifier between Ghana and South Africa.

According to the GFA, the protest was not properly lodged by SAFA as it violates the provisions of the regulations for the competition and the Disciplinary Code of FIFA.

In a response to a protest filed by SAFA against the GFA, Mr. Prosper Harrison Addo General Secretary of the GFA said, the protest should have been lodged with the Match Commissioner two hours after the match, in writing adding that this was not done but rather an oral complaint.

He noted that Article 14(2) of the Regulations for the FIFA 2022 Preliminary Competitions states that, protests must be submitted two hours after the match in writing and SAFA failed to do so hence the protest must be dismissed.

“It is very clear that, the mandatory provision that a written protest must be submitted to the Match Commissioner two hours after the match at Cape Coast. Again the provision demands without fail that a full written report including a copy of the original protest is sent by email to FIFA General Secretary within 24 hours.

The GFA said, SAFA as of 11 pm of November 15, 2021, was strictly expected to send a full report to FIFA including a copy of the original report, but this was not done.

The GFA added that SAFA also failed to pay a protest fee that must accompany their protest which also violates Article 46(3) of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, adding that, it also forms the basis for the protest to be dismissed.

“The Protest Fee is CF 1,000 and it must be paid when the protest is lodged and it reimbursed only if the protest is admitted in full.

“It is the position of the GFA that, SAFA failed to pay the protest fee on or before 11 PM Monday, November 15, 2021, and this renders the purported protest void and a nullity,” the letter added.

According to the GFA, though the protest was not properly filed, it also did not provide any evidence or ingredient to support their allegations, adding that SAFA wants to send FIFA on a fishing expedition without any direction.

The Black Stars of Ghana defeated Bafana Bafana of South Africa 1-0 at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium to progress to the next stage of the World Cup qualifiers.