BRASILIA: Ghana went into their decisive and last World Cup group match against Portugal in chaos after Kevin-Prince Boateng and Sulley Muntari were banned for insurrection writes KEIR RADNEDGE.

This followed the remarkable transfer of £3m in cash by air and road from Accra to avert a players’ boycott of the match against Portugal in Brasilia.

Last weekend the Ghana Football Association was called into question over allegations concerning a proposal for fix friendly matches. This is now being investigated by FIFA.

Schalke’s Boateng was expelled from the squad after a clash with coach Kwasi Appiah during training while Milan midfielder Muntari is alleged to have come to blows with GFA official Moses Arman Parker.

German media sources quoted Boateng as confirming: “Yes, I am travelling out, I’m not a member of the team now.” Muntari could not have played against Portugal because of susension.

Misunderstanding

Trouble erupted on Tuesday when Boateng and Muntari clashed in training. Coach Appiah misunderstood Boateng’s words as being meant for him and reacted which provoked a reponse – intended for him this time – from Boateng. Claims emerged later that Muntari had assaulted Armah.

The Ghana camp could not gloss over the cash issue. Answering questions at yesterday’s pre-match press conference, Appiah said: “No coach wants to be in this situation where players are requesting for money with such an important game to play.

“It’s not the best for me. For the past two days I have had sleepless nights. I have not been able to close my eyes.

“Normally you sort this out before a major tournament. You can’t keep telling the players the money will come when it hasn’t come.”

The controversial training session followed after which Appiah ordered both Muntari and Boateng out. However they insisted on being given their appearance fees before leaving.

Convoy

A plane carrying the money landed in Brasilia last night and was brought, in security escorted convoy, to the team’s training camp.

The players began agitating for their appearance money during the pre-World Cup training camp in Miami. They were assured that it would be paid by direct transfer into the players’ accounts

However, the money had still not arrived after the defeat to the United States and the draw with Germany. The squad then told the GFA that it had to be paid in cash. The amounts vary between $75,000 and $100,000 per player.

GFA statement

A confirmatory statement about the disciplinary issues from the Ghana Football Association said the players’ accreditations for the World Cup has been withdrawn “with immediate effect”. It said:

The GFA has suspended Sulley Ali Muntari indefinitely from the Black Stars with immediate effect. The decision was taken in the wake of his unprovoked physical attack on an executive committee member of the GFA and a management member of the Black Stars, Mr Moses Armah on Tuesday 24th June, 2014 during a meeting.

The GFA has approved coach Kwesi Appiah’s decision to suspend Kevin-Prince Boateng indefinitely from the Black Stars. The decision was taken following Boateng’s vulgar verbal insults targeted at coach Kwesi Appiah during the team’s training session in Maceio this week. Boateng has since showed no remorse for his actions which has resulted in the decision.

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