Former Ghana Football Association president Kwesi Nyantakyi
was handed a life ban from all football-related activities by FIFA on Tuesday
following various violations of the governing body’s ethics code, including
bribery and corruption.
Nyantakyi, a former member of FIFA’s General Council, was
found guilty after being filmed by an investigative journalist in a hotel room
appearing to take a $65,000 bribe from a supposed businessman seeking to
sponsor the Ghanaian football league.
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| Kwesi Nyantakyi |
He was also fined 500,000 Swiss Francs ($498,000).
“The adjudicatory chamber found Mr Nyantakyi guilty of
having violated art. 19 (Conflicts of interest), art. 21 (Bribery and
corruption) and art. 22 (Commission) of the FIFA Code of Ethics,” FIFA said in
a statement.
“As a consequence, Mr Nyantakyi is banned for life from all
football-related activities (administrative, sports or any other) at both
national and international level.
“Additionally, a fine in the amount of CHF 500,000 has been
imposed on Mr Nyantakyi.”
Nyantakyi resigned in June after a recording by undercover
journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas appeared to show him demanding kickbacks to pass
on to top government officials, including the presidency.
He was also a former vice-president of the Confederation of
African Football.
Nyantakyi later apologised to Ghana president Nana
Akufo-Addo and the government for what he called his “indiscretion”.
He denied any wrongdoing regarding match fixing.
The scandal, along with undercover footage that showed
numerous match officials receiving bribes, forced the suspension of the Ghana
Premier League in June, which has still not resumed.
Former Ghana Football Association (GFA) board member Kofi
Amoah was placed in charge of a 4-member normalization committee in September
tasked with steering the affairs of football in the country for the next six
months.
Nyantakyi and the Ghana FA could not be immediately reached
for comment on Tuesday.
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