In a groundbreaking decision, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has ruled in favor of Asante Kotoko midfielder Richmond Lamptey, overturning the Ghana Football Association’s (GFA) earlier decision.
This verdict, announced today, represents a major turning point in Richmond Lamptey’s career and sets a precedent for future player disputes within Ghanaian football.
In 2022, Lamptey was handed a 2.5-year ban by the GFA due to his alleged involvement in a match-fixing scandal between Inter Allies and Ashantigold SC. He was accused of captaining Inter Allies in a manipulated game that ended in a 7-0 loss to AshantiGold.
After a 10-month investigation, the Disciplinary Committee concluded that the match had indeed been fixed, leading to Lamptey’s ban.
Asante Kotoko, who signed Lamptey from Inter Allies at the beginning of the current season, responded to the CAS decision with a statement expressing their support for the player throughout the prosecution process. They stated that they would continue to stand by him until the matter is fully resolved.
“The attention of the Club has been drawn to a decision of the disciplinary committee of the Ghana Football association banning its player, Richmond Lamptey for a period of thirty (30) months. The alleged misconduct of the player is said to have occurred at the time he played for Inter Allies FC.”
“The Player was charged by the GFA at the beginning of the 2021/2022 football season, at a time the Club had signed on the Player. The Club supported the Player through the prosecution process and would continue to lend its support to the Player at this time until finality is brought to the matter.”
As part of the ruling, Lamptey will receive $3,456.80 as compensation. During the 2022/23 Ghana Premier League season, he made 27 appearances and scored one goal for the Porcupine Warriors.
