Posted On Friday, 12th April 2013
Ranbow FC Chief alleges conspiracy to have Kotoko progress in MTN FA Cup
By Ameenu Shardow
Rainbow FC Chief Executive Nana Acheampong has accused referee Jonathan Tetteh of conspiring with Asante Kotoko to ensure the Premier League side progress in the MTN FA Cup.
The second tier club were thumped 3-0 on Wednesday by the defending Premier League champions to secure a quarter final spot in the competition.
Kotoko were just coming off a disappointing 1-1 draw with JSM Bejaia which saw the Porcupine Warriors crash out of the CAF Champions League.
Their convincing win however did very little to console the hurting fans of the Reds who remain bitterly disappointed in last Sunday’s result against the Algerian club.
The Ranbow FC CEO has now waded in to muddy the waters by revealing a conspiracy involving the center referee for Wednesday’s game to have Kotoko progress in the FA Cup by awarding a ‘dubious’ penalty for their opening goal.
“I wasn’t surprised with the result at all, I knew that was going to be the outcome,” he told Accra-based Hot FM.
“This is what the organizers wanted so am not surprised.
“I was emerging from the tunnel when I overheard the referee tell the Kotoko players to just fall in the penalty box so he could award a penalty.
“And that is exactly what he did. He awarded Kotoko a penalty and from there onwards my team couldn’t recover.”
Acheampong’s revelation is unlikely to escape further scrutiny as it has the tendency to bring the game into disrepute.
The Rainbow FC chief ought to be made to substantiate this serious allegation before the appropriate quarters to clear any doubts in the minds of football fans over the game’s vulnerability to being manipulated.