Division One League side Elmina Sharks have responded to the violence that erupted during their match against Swedru All Blacks on Sunday, February 16, 2025, denying any involvement and attributing the chaos to external factors.
The match, played at the Nduom Sports Stadium in Elmina, descended into turmoil after a penalty was awarded against the home side.
According to reports, tensions flared, leading to an altercation in which the referee and some supporters were attacked.
In the aftermath, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) charged Elmina Sharks, along with their owner, Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom, and player Jay Asamoah Kola.
Additionally, the Ghana Police arrested the club’s General Manager, Kelvin Aboagye, for their alleged roles in the incident.
However, in an official statement, Elmina Sharks denied any involvement in the brawl, distancing themselves from the violent scenes at the stadium.
The club outlined the following points in its defense, “As a club known for our warm hospitality, we extended our support to the visiting team, All Blacks, by assisting their officials in printing out their team sheet. Additionally, their traveling party was granted access to the stadium and dressing room upon arrival at exactly 12:45 PM—courtesies we are not always afforded,” the statement read.
“Twelve minutes into the first half, center referee Eso Morrison awarded a dubious penalty to the away team, causing a temporary halt to the game. In response, our Chairman, Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom, along with our General Manager, sensing the potential for a security breach and chaos, moved from the executive box area upstairs and, together with some police officers, rushed to the inner perimeter. Their presence was meant to prevent verbal or physical attacks on the match officials from the stands and to restrain our players from engaging in arguments or altercations with the away team players and the match officials,” the statement further noted.
“Before the game resumed after the long stoppage, three well-built men wearing fake Elmina Sharks T-shirts, pretending to be our supporters, attempted to rush onto the pitch from the opposite entrance with the intention of disrupting the match and attacking the referees. This act appeared to be orchestrated to have Elmina Sharks blamed and fined. However, thanks to the swift intervention of the police, these individuals were stopped before getting close to the match officials, although they did manage to enter the inner perimeter,” the statement added.
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