Asante Kotoko have fined assistant coach Diogo Peral after he was sent off for slapping a Medeama SC player during their Ghana Premier League clash at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, with the Ghana Football Association also charging the Portuguese trainer over the incident.
The flashpoint occurred during the Matchday 9 fixture, which ended in a 1-1 draw, when the ball went out of play. As the Medeama player attempted to retrieve the ball for a quick throw-in, Peral allegedly attempted to delay the restart, resulting in the player pushing him down. Upon rising, the coach slapped the player, identified as Ebenezer Adade, before being held back by players on the Kotoko bench.
Kotoko assistant coach, Diego slaps medeama SC player. Ghana Premier League 💔 https://t.co/L4olXZJL3l
— Eben Leroy👽 (@the_leroystyles) November 1, 2026
In a statement issued on Monday, November 2, the club confirmed the internal disciplinary action, describing the coach’s conduct as inconsistent with its values.Â
"The Club wishes to state that such conduct does not reflect the standards and values we uphold at Asante Kotoko. Consequently, the Club has imposed a fine on Coach Diogo Peral as part of its internal disciplinary measures. This decision reinforces the Club’s commitment to maintaining the highest standards of discipline, professionalism, and accountability," the statement read.
The club acknowledged that football is a highly emotional sport where tensions can run high, but maintained that emotions must never compromise the professionalism expected of everyone representing the institution. Following discussions, Peral reportedly accepted that he could have handled the situation more professionally.
The Ghana Football Association’s Disciplinary Committee has subsequently charged the coach over the alleged assault, giving him until Wednesday, November 4, 2026, to respond to the charge and present his defence.
The result leaves Kotoko ninth in the league standings with 13 points. The Porcupine Warriors will now shift their focus to their next league fixture against Berekum Chelsea, while Peral's response to the GFA charge will be crucial as the disciplinary process continues.
