Caf fines Ghana $10,000 for pitch invasion incident

By Stephen Amos

Ghana have been fined by the Confederation of African Football (Caf) for fan misconduct.

The Black Stars beat South Africa 2-0 at home – the Cape Coast Stadium – to kick off their campaign in the qualifiers to the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations last November.

A fan, who was later identified as Awal Suleman, invaded the pitch during the late stages of the Group C opener against Bafana Bafana to take a selfie with his idol Thomas Partey of Ghana and Atletico Madrid fame.

“There was an invasion of the pitch by a supporter from Ghana on the field at the 84th minute, controlled after that by the security forces,’’ Caf’s Disciplinary Board stated as receiving in a report from officials of the match.

Consequently, the Caf Disciplinary Board decided to impose upon the Ghana Football Association (GFA) “a fine of 10.000 USD for the invasion of the pitch by one of your spectators.”

The GFA has three days to appeal or pay the fine in full within 60 days.

Ghana top Group C of the qualifiers to Cameroon 2021 after wins against South Africa as well as Sao Tome and Principe. The Black Stars were scheduled to play Sudan in doubleheader games on March 27 and 30 but the ties have been postponed indefinitely due to COVID-19 outbreak.