Ghana FA begin probe into Ashanti Gold vs Inter game
Ghanaian FA has approached the Ghana Police Service and the Ghana wing of Interpol for criminal investigation of a game between Ashanti Gold and Inter Allies suspected to have been fixed.
A statement on their website read: ‘The Association will lodge a complaint on the match with the Criminal Investigation Department of the Ghana Police Service and the Ghana wing of Interpol for the criminal investigation of the game.
The said match saw Top-tier side Ashanti Gold beat bottom-of-the-table Inter Allies 7-0 on Saturday with Inter Allies defender Hashmin Musah coming on to score two own goals with his side already five goals down. The own goals appeared entirely deliberate as Hashmin Musah later said “it was to spoil a pre-agreed bet”
Hashim Musah scored two quick own goals.
Musah reportedly confessed to Kumasi FM that he did intentionally score the own goals – which have gone viral on social media – in order to ruin what he believed was a pre-arranged result for betting reasons.
He said: ‘After the game, my technical team commended me for spoiling the bet they had staked. I promised my coach that if he allows me to play from the bench, I will spoil the bet. And after the game, my team congratulated me.
‘I heard it in our hotel that a bet had been made for a correct scoreline of 5-1 against my club Inter Allies. I decided to spoil that bet because I don’t condone betting.’
Ghanaian sports journalist Saddick Adams tweeted the remarkable goals with the caption: ‘The craziest own goals ever in the history of football. Ashgold 7 vs 0 Inter Allies. Ghana Premier League smh (shaking my head).’
In a club statement on Monday Ashanti Gold denied they were part of any attempt to fix the scoreline of the match, and threatened legal action against those putting forward those allegations.
It said: ‘We wish to unequivocally disassociate (ourselves) from any wrongdoing. Ashanti Gold played competitively in the entire duration of the game, with our players scoring five great goals through hard work and team effort.
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‘We have no idea as to why the opponents’ player scored two own goals after we were up by five goals. We demonstrated throughout the game we were determined to play to the best of our abilities, and not to play to any pre-determined score line.
Although it is a local match there are strong indications that World Soccer ruling body FIFA bent on stamping out match fixing may get involved along the line with serious consequences.