CAS dismisses Palmer’s case against GFA

The Court of Arbitration for Sport has dismissed the case of Tema Youth Owner, Wilfred Osei Kwaku Palmer against the Ghana Football Association.

Palmer went to CAS challenging the decision of the GFA’s Normalisation Committee’s (NC) to disqualify him from contesting its Presidential elections held in  October 2019, a contest which Kurt Okraku won.

Palmer wanted the GFA elections annulled and his candidacy reinstated for fresh elections to be held.

However, in a letter addressed to both parties, and signed by the President of the Panel, Michele Bernasconi, the Swiss-based court ruled to confirm the decision of the GFA Elections to disqualify Palmer for the polls.

Why was Palmer disqualified?

With the GFA in Normalisation following the Anas Aremeyaw Anas documentary in June 2018, the Normalisation Committee was tasked with organizing fresh elections to replace the ousted GFA administration of Kwesi Nyantakyi.

As the Elections Committee, the NC put together a sub-committee, the Vetting Committee, which was tasked with vetting all candidates interested in contesting the GFA Presidential Elections.

The Vetting Committee, chaired by Lawyer Frank Davis, vetted 7 candidates, approved 6 and disqualified one – Wilfred Osei Kwaku Palmer.

Two reasons were given for his disqualification –

1. Failure of his club, Tema Youth, to pay a 10% fee to the GFA on the transfer of two players – Gabriel Laveh ($15,000) and Joseph Painstil (€300,000). According to the Vetting Committee, this action was in flagrant violation of the GFA Regulations [Article 33 (5) (C)] and a person seeking to govern an institution cannot be seen to be disregarding that very institutions’ rules and regulations.
2. Comments made on Citi FM where he suggested that the Black Stars of Ghana failed to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup because the country did not make a budget available for unclassified payments to match officials. The Committee held that Palmer had been found guilty by a judicial body of the GFA (Ethics Committee) for the comments and say the remarks prove Palmer lacks moral integrity to hold the position of GFA President.

Additionally, Palmer is to bear the cost of the arbitration, which will be determined by CAS.

The spokesperson of Osei Palmer, Ebo Appiah in an interview with Asempa FM admitted receiving the verdict from CAS. He said despite the disappointment they are ready to assist the current administration going forward.

“Palmer is calm and he is a sportsman who knows that you will either win or lose. He is calm and not down.” Ebo said.