According to the FA, it was regrettable that the referee in the game booked Sulley Muntari for complaining about the abuse, while the Italian FA subsequently slapped him with a ban for the incident.

[contextly_sidebar id=”YOPbXb2XIV4btfuw7pKxbfqTa7azspA1″]Spokesperson for the GFA, Saani Diara, in an interview with Citi News said the FA is actively looking into the matter.

“We condemn the racist attack directed at Sulley Muntari. We would like to also condemn the action of showing him a yellow card and subsequently the Italian FA’s Disciplinary Committee’s decision to uphold the sanction against Sulley Muntari. We think that this action by the Italian Football Federation Disciplinary Committee and the referee, is counterproductive and will further arm the racists with confidence to go on the pitch and verbally abuse any player,” he said.

According to him, the GFA is in touch with Sulley Muntari on the matter and is looking to take a firm stance.

“The GFA has never been aloof on this issue of racism that Sulley Muntari was subjected to. Since the incident occurred, the President of the FA, Kwesi Nyantakyi, has spoken with Sulley Muntari about the incident. Sulley is obviously distraught about what happened; but most importantly he wants changes in the way we deal with racism in football.”

According to the disciplinary committee that investigated the matter, official match reports stated that, only 10 football fans out of the 2,000 spectators chanted the racist slurs, and that was not enough to warrant a walk-off by Muntari.

The Italian FA also said the sanction on Muntari for his protest was within its laws.

But according to Saani Diara, such laws were regressive, and did not support the global call for action against racism in football.

Gov’t condemns racist attack on Sulley Muntari

Government has also criticized the Italian Football Association for failing to punish the football fans who racially abused Sulley Muntari.

Mahama backs Muntari’s protest after racial abuse

Ghana’s Former President John Dramani Mahama, has also backed Sulley Muntari’s walk-off after he was racially abused by fans during Pescara’s Serie A match with Cagliari on Sunday. Mr. Mahama in a tweet said he stood with Muntari.

The Ministry of Youth and Sports has also condemned the Italian FA for the sanction against Muntari over the matter.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post GFA backs Muntari in Serie A racism incident appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The former Black Stars player walked off the pitch in the dying minutes of the game in protest against the racial abuse he suffered from some fans.

[contextly_sidebar id=”rZGQuirdEidw9DXgRWbVMCKmBydnrH7J”]His complaint to the referee about the abuse only got him a booking in the game between his Pescara side and Cagliari.

The incident has attracted global attention, with bodies such as the UN, FIFPRO and some important football personalities supporting Muntari for the action.

Ghana’s Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, Pius Hadzidze in an interview with Citi News condemned the attack on the footballer.

“Racism of any kind is an action that must be condemned by all. We as the Ministry of Youth and Sports unequivocally condemn the racist attack that was targeted at Sulley Muntari. We condemn it in no uncertain terms and we are calling on football governing bodies across the world and particularly the football governing body of Italy to investigate the circumstances under which he [Muntari] rather became the one who was punished and the fans of the team that were shouting the racists slurs and insults at Muntari rather have been left off the hook.”

The Italian FA in a rather shocking decision sanctioned Muntari by barring him from featuring in a game for the walk-off.

According to a disciplinary committee that investigated the matter, official match reports stated that, only 10 football fans out of the 2,000 spectators chanted the racist slurs.

But the Deputy Minister said, “they must take firm unbiased and fair steps to ensure that such actions do not repeat themselves. We stand in solidarity with all the people who have condemned this clear act of racism against Sulley Muntari.”

Mahama backs Muntari’s protest after racial abuse

Ghana’s Former President John Dramani Mahama, has also backed Sulley Muntari’s walk-off after he was racially abused by fans during Pescara’s Serie A match with Cagliari on Sunday.

Mr. Mahama in a tweet said he stood with Muntari.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Gov’t condemns racist attack on Sulley Muntari appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.