New Edubiase, All Stars deny match-fixing; But GFA to probe
The GFA Ethics Committee has indicated it would probe an alleged match-fixing involving matches between New Edubiase United and Wa Alll Stars, after it received an audio recording in which a New Edubiase player, Prince Antwi, allegedly claimed that his club played a match of convenience with the league leaders in the ongoing Ghana Premier League.
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According to the Ghana Football Association (GFA) sub-committee, it is currently studying the recording and will soon invite Antwi to appear before it to establish the veracity of the comments made in the recording.
The committee said it would treat this particular case with upmost importance, considering the effect it could have on the nation’s top flight league.
In a quick reaction, the management of Wa All Stars has dismissed allegations by the New Edubiase, player that their fifth week Premier League fixture at the Wa Park was fixed and had therefore asked the FA’s Ethics Committee to invite him to substantiate the allegation.
In a statement signed by the General Manager of the club, Seth Panwum, and made availed to the Graphic Sports Wa All Stars described the allegations as “unfounded and without merit.” It added adding that “Wa All Stars does not indulge in match-fixing.”
It said it was absurd for Wa All Stars to engage in such an illegality with a struggling club like New Edubiase which is fighting relegation and whose best result at the Wa park against All Stars has been a goalless draw, considering All Stars’ current good form right from the start of the season.
Wa All Stars won back-to-back against New Edubiase at Wa and in Bekwai last Sunday by a lone goal.
Meanwhile, the management of New Edubiase FC has also dissociated itself from claims by their player that the club arranged a match of convenience with Wa All Stars at Bekwai last Sunday.
“We have never spoken with either players or the technical team to play any match of convenience with All Stars. That is why I am surprised about news going round that we negotiated with All Stars to play it soft at Bekwai last Sunday,” the president of New Edubiase FC, Abdul-Salam Yakubu, told Graphic Sports in an interview.
“We met the players after the match and commended them for their high performance against All Stars and attributed our defeat to hard luck, so I don’t know where the rumours about match-fixing are coming from,” he wondered.
He, however, gave an assurance that management was not only arranging to meet Antwi as part of its investigations to unravel the truth.
