November 1 – Former Ghana Football Association president Kwesi Nyantakyi is to appeal against his life ban at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
On Tuesday the one-time second most important official in African football – vice-president of the Confederation of African Football – was banned by FIFA for breaking bribery and corruption rules after being filmed taking $65,000 from an undercover reporter.
“My legal advisors are under my instructions to urgently appeal the decision as I think it was unfair, harsh and unwarranted,” Nyantakyi, who was also a member of the ruling FIFA Council, said in a statement.
“I wish to express my shock and deep sadness after receiving the decision from the FIFA ethics adjudicatory committee on Tuesday. I will use all the legal channels available to seek redress and establish the facts I presented to the committee.”
“Even though I have already resigned from all my football positions, it is important I establish the facts with the sole aim of clearing my name.”
The bribery revelations formed part of a two-year undercover investigation by a Ghanaian journalist into football corruption in Africa and also revealed footage of over 100 referees and officials allegedly taking cash before games. Some of the footage was broadcast by the BBC World Service’s investigations programme Africa Eye.
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