CAF CL : Hearts of Oak fined US$5000 for using deplorable stadium

Ghana’s representative in this year’s CAF Champions League, Hearts of Oak, have received an official warning from the Confederation of African Football over the poor state of the Accra Sports Stadium pitch used by the team for home matches in the competition.

The Phobians used the said venue for their first Champions League game against CI Kamsar on September 19, a match they won by 2-0 to progress to the next stage of the competition.

According to reports, the Accra based club was found culpable by the competition committee over the terrible nature of the pitch used and has since been fined an amount of $5000 and cautioned to fix the pitch to the required standard.

Failure to fix the pitch before the Champions League next match day will mean Hearts will be forced to use their second choice venue, the Cape Coast Stadium, for their upcoming home game.

Hearts of Oak will host Moroccan giants Wydad Athletic Club on October 15 before travelling to Casablanca days later for the reverse leg tie on October 22.

The winner of the two-legged fixture will advance to the group stages of the 2021/22 CAF Champions League.

Meanwhile, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) Club Licensing Committee has rejected the use of the Accra Sports Stadium selected by some local clubs including Hearts of Oak as the venue for their home matches in the upcoming Ghana Premier League.