WORLD CUP: Ghana Sends Muntari & Boateng Home Ahead Of Portugal Clash

Ghana's troubled World Cup campaign descended further into farce on Thursday when midfielders Sulley Muntari and Kevin-Prince Boateng were handed indefinite suspensions by the Ghana Football Association and ordered to leave their World Cup camp.

The GFA announced the news in separate statements on their website a day after a pay dispute over appearance fees was resolved following the intervention of the country's president John Mahama.

The Black Stars take on Portugal in their final Group G game on Thursday but will do so without Muntari and Boateng.


On AC Milan star Muntari, the GFA statement read: "The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has suspended Sulley Ali Muntari indefinitely from the Black Stars with immediate effect.

"The decision was taken in the wake of his unprovoked physical attack on an Executive Committee member of the GFA and a management member of the Black Stars, Mr Moses Armah on Tuesday 24th June, 2014 during a meeting.

"Muntari’s accreditation for the 2014 World Cup has been withdrawn with immediate effect."

Boateng is accused of hurling verbal insults at coach Kwesi Appiah, claims he denies.

The GFA stated: "The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has approved coach Kwesi Appiah’s decision to suspend Kevin-Prince Boateng indefinitely from the Black Stars.

"The decision takes immediate effect and was taken following Boateng’s vulgar verbal insults targeted at coach Appiah during the team’s training session in Maceio this week.

"Boateng has since showed no remorse for his actions which has resulted in the decision.

"Boateng’s accreditation for the 2014 World Cup has been withdrawn with immediate effect."

Boateng, who plays his club football for Schalke, denied any wrongdoing.

In an interview with Sport Bild, he gave his version of events. "Yesterday, there was an incident during training. Sulley Muntari and I have gone for a tackle and I said he had played the ball with his hand. He said no. Then I laughed and said 'hey, are you the referee or what?'.

"We both laughed but the coach wondered why. We said everything was okay but he sent us off the field.

"After training I went to the coach and asked him if he had a minute for me. I asked him what he had against me? Then he started yelling at me. He insulted me. There were words like f*** off.

"No-one should believe I insulted the coach. I will now travel home and I wish my colleagues all the best for the World Cup and the match against Portugal."