GFA Disciplinary Committee Bans Five RTU Officials for One Year Over Player Impersonation Incident

The Disciplinary Committee of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has imposed a one-year ban on five officials of Real Tamale United (RTU) from all football-related activities due to a significant breach of regulations during their Matchday 28 game against Dreams FC at the Theatre of Dreams.

The officials affected by the ban are Iddi Manzah Alhassan, Abdul-Samed Iddrisu, Abdul-Gafaru Salifu, Tanko Jentumah, and Sylvester Yaw Apanka. This decision follows their involvement in an incident where RTU used unregistered players to impersonate officially registered players, deceiving the match officials and compromising the integrity of the game.

The GFA’s decision highlights its commitment to maintaining high standards of conduct and ensuring accountability within the sport. The one-year bans, effective immediately, aim to reinforce the importance of ethical behavior in football administration.

The controversy arose when RTU, faced with a challenging situation due to their registered players refusing to travel, resorted to using unregistered players against Dreams FC, resulting in an 8-1 loss in Dawu. Although the club admitted guilt and sought leniency, citing necessity, the GFA Disciplinary Committee concluded that the severity of the breach warranted strict penalties.