The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has reduced former Ghana Football Association (GFA) President Kwesi Nyantakyi’s lifetime ban to 12 years.
The Swiss-based organization, SPORTS WORLD GHANA understands, has communicated the news to the former FIFA Council member and CAF 1st Vice President on Tuesday 6th September, 22020 via email after he appealed the decision of FIFA.
Kumasi-based Nhyira FM in Ghana, reports that FIFA has also been informed of the decision.
This, however, has not been independently confirmed by the three parties.
It is not known if the other sanctions against Nyantakyi have been quashed following the appeal at sport’s highest court.
If the report is anything to go by then Mr. Nyantakyi can return to the administration of the game in 2029 but can attend football matches even though he cannot play a part in the administration of the game for now.
The former WAFU Zone B President was found guilty after being filmed by an investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas in a hotel room appearing to take a $65,000 bribe from a supposed businessman seeking to sponsor the Ghanaian football league.
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.
FIFA handed a life ban from all football-related activities by FIFA in October 2018 following various violations of the governing body’s ethics code, including bribery and corruption.
The former Ghana FA boss 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.
Nyantakyi later apologized to Ghana president Nana Akufo-Addo and the government for what he called his “indiscretion”.
He denied any wrongdoing regarding match-fixing.
