Five things to expect from GFA meeting with football stakeholders

Like all facets of human existence, the colossal impact of coronavirus has been greatly felt in the sporting world.

Football leagues, athletic events, tennis championships, among others have either been cancelled or postponed indefinitely as the world feels the bite of the coronavirus.

From mid-March to now, major leagues across the globe have been placed on ice as league management outfits and associations wait on health officials to give a green card for the return of football.

From the world football’s governing body to continental bodies to individual associations, meetings have been held as experts and administrators deliberate on the best possible scenario for the return of the game.

France and Belgium have scrapped their seasons while England and Italy remain hopeful of a return to normalcy in the coming weeks where stadiums could experience the terrific atmospheres that characterize matchdays.

In Africa, the Confederation of Africa Football has given all associations until May 5 to decide on the way forward for their ongoing seasons.

The Ghana Football Association is set to hold a series of meetings in the coming days to discuss the way forward for the sports.

Ahead of the first of the virtual meetings, ghanaweb.com brings you five topics which are set to dominate discussions.

Scrap or continue 2019/2020 season

This will undoubtedly be the major point of discourse during the meetings. Opinions are sharply divided as some want the season annulled while others want it to continue.

Clubs will have a go at each other at this as public remarks by some administrators show extreme stance on the matter.

Some clubs who feel they are closer to success with their positions want the season to continue while others argue it will counterproductive for the FA to go ahead with the league.

It is, however, expected that by the end of these meetings, a concrete decision would have been made on the annulment or otherwise of the season.

Decisions will also have to be made on promotion and demotion depending on the outcome of the meetings.

League return date

In England, June 8 has been earmarked as the day for the return of the league.

The President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo says considerations are being done for the lifting of the ban on social gatherings.

A lifting of the ban provides a clear path for the return of the Ghana Premier League.

Should the FA decide to continue to the league, the clubs will definitely have to decide on a return date. $500K FIFA Money

Even before the money will land in the coffers of the FA, there appears to be some hostility between the clubs and FA over its distribution.

Some club officials have taken to radio to demand their share of the money despite statements by the FA PRO that the money belongs to the association and not the clubs.

The issue will be one of many topics administrators will chew on in the coming days.

Government support

GFA has through the Ministry of Youth and Sports written to the government, demanding a share of the Covid-19 relief fund.

The FA is requesting loan packages for the GPL clubs while pleading for grants for the Division One League clubs.

It is expected that the FA will update the clubs on the status of those requests.

Receipt of Number12 raw visuals and way forward

The FA took delivery of the unedited videos of the earth-shattering documentary by Anas Aremeyaw Anas on Monday and investigations are to be launched in the coming days.

The clubs will officially be notified of the receipt and the process that will follow.

Below is the line up of activities by the FA

1. The President, the 5 Executive Council Representatives from Premier League, i.e. Nana Sarfo Oduro, Dr. Toni Aubynn, Kingsley Bonsu, Frederick Acheampong and George Amoako, the Premier League Committee and the Secretariat will engage Premier League clubs on Thursday 30th April 2020 at 11am, via Zoom.

2. The President, the 3 Executive Council Representatives from Division One League, i.e. Mark Addo (Vice President), Dr. Randy Abbey, Samuel Anim Addo, the Division One League Committee and the Secretariat will engage the Division One League clubs as follows: Zone 1 – Wednesday, April 29, 2020 at 4pm

Zone 2 – Thursday, April 30, 2020 at 4pm

Zone 3 – Friday, May 1, 2020 at 4pm

3. The President, the Executive Council Representative from Women’s Premier League, Madam Habiba Atta Forson, the Women’s Premier League Committee and the Secretariat will engage Women’s Premier League clubs at 11am on Friday, May 1, 2020. Read Full Story

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