Ghanaian FA takes legal action against betting operators

Ghanaian football’s governing body has instructed lawyers to act against domestic operators offering betting markets on its major competitions.

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) vowed to uphold the new regulations it recently unveiled under new president, Kurt Okraku (pictured), which include an order that only operators licensed by the body can offer betting markets on competitions such as the Ghana Premier League (GPL).

In a statement, the GFA said it has not authorised any betting company to place betting on the Premier League or any of its products.

It called on the national regulator, the Gaming Commission of Ghana, to consider the “illegal activities of their licenced betting companies against the GFA and its members”.

The body added: “The GFA, in exercising its exclusive right as the owner, organiser, controller and manager of the Ghana Premier League, wishes to caution all betting companies to desist from placing odds on Ghana Premier League matches without the necessary authorisation from the GFA.

“The GFA seriously frowns on such flagrant violation of the marketing and commercial rights of the Ghana Premier League, and will not countenance any ambush marketing on its product.”

The GFA added: “By this statement, we strongly warn all betting companies to stop placing bets on the Ghana Premier League or any GFA product without authorisation from the GFA; failing which the Association will take legal action against them without further notice.

“Meanwhile, we have instructed our lawyers to take action against betting companies who placed odds on Ghana Premier League matches last weekend without authorisation.”

The new GFA boss and his Executive Council approved new rules and regulations regarding betting in the Ghana Premier League ahead of the new season, which began last weekend.

All participants in football competitions are strictly prohibited from taking part in betting, while no betting company can use the GFA’s fixtures or match results for betting without an authorisation or a licence from the GFA.

Last month Ghana Premier League side Elmina Sharks made a passionate appeal to the FA to launch an investigation into a ’fake’ friendly involving the club’s academy side and Sekondi Hasaacas in October 2019, which it claims was influenced by betting syndicates.