It is the latest chaotic game in the Ghana Premier League, where security officers try without success to restore calm.
They did, eventually.
But before sanity could prevail, Nations F.C. had had enough.
Their oil-rich owner, Dr. Kwame Kye,i had had enough. He marched his employees into their waiting bus, and off they went to Abrankese.
So why did Nations F.C. walk off the pitch knowing they could be declared losers and be docked a further three points, throwing their title aspirations into jeopardy?
Why would the league leaders do that with just one match remaining to end the season?
Are there any mitigating factors?
In their press statement, Nations raised safety concerns, including allegations that two of their directors, Dr. Divine Kyei Boadu and Dr. Kwame Kyei, were attacked.
Even before the match delayed, Nations F.C. made a formal complaint to the match commissioner about the number of security personnel present.
The GFA has communicated to local media through JoySports that the complaint was addressed after a head count confirmed that the security officers available were actually more than the 70 officers required. It was after the head count, according to the GFA, that Nations F.C. decided to go ahead with the match.
By the time this was done, the match was already 30 minutes behind schedule.
Walk-off.
Sunday’s statement from the club raises two issues as reasons for the walk-off.
The first issue mentioned was poor officiating and how it brought the integrity it the match into question.
The second was the security concerns mentioned above.
What does the law say?
The enhanced matchday security protocols introduced by the GFA in March do not accept poor officiating as a condition for calling off a match. It is not mentioned at all.
However, it does make room for security. Even then, the power to make that decision does not lie within the remit of the away team.
The protocol says that if the security available is not adequate (as prescribed by the Match Venue Security Meeting), there shall be a crisis security meeting to find alternative arrangements that are still consistent with the Premier League Regulations.
If there is no agreement and the situation is a result of the lack of proactiveness from the home team, the match shall be called off and the home team shall forfeit the said match.
If the Regional Security Officer determines that the situation is beyond the control of the home team, a replay may be arranged.
Nations’ fate will be determined by the testimonies of the Regional Security Officer and the Match Commissioner.
If they establish that there was adequate security, but Nations still decided to walk off, the Premier League Regulations suggest they will forfeit the match.
What happens in that case?
Article 33, section 1A of the Ghana Premier League Regulations says that any team that walks off the pitch or refuses to continue playing would be declared losers of the match.
Additionally, the club shall lose three points from their accumulated points from previous matches.
Section five also prescribes an additional fine of 5,000 Ghana cedis to be paid by the offending clubs, with 50% going to the opposing team, in this case, Basake Holy Stars.
It has been less than three months since the GFA introduced its enhanced matchday security protocols in response to the death of Nana Pooley.
Hopefully, the GFA stays true to its principles and delivers a verdict that is consistent with the regulations.
Story: Victor Atsu Tam ( Joy Sports)
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