Palmer pummeled by CAS

 

The long-awaited verdict on the case between the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and Wilfred Kwaku Osei Palmer is out, with the latter going home with a bloody nose.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), in its ruling, dismissed the claims filed by Palmer, who had petitioned CAS over his disqualification from the last GFA presidential poll.

Signed by the President of the panel that heard the case, Michele A.R. Bernasconi, page 17 of the ruling by CAS said the petitioner would bear the costs of the arbitration.

“The appeal filed on October 14, 2019 by Mr Wilfred Kwaku Osei against the Ghana Football Association (GFA), with respect to the decisions rendered on October 4, 2019 and October 8, 2019 respectively by the Elections Committee of the respondent, is dismissed,” the CAS Court ruled.

“The decision rendered on October 4, 2019, and October 8, 2019 respectively by the GFA Elections Committee of the respondent are confirmed,” it added.

The court further ruled: “The costs of the arbitration, to be determined and served to the parties by the CAS Court Office, shall be borne by Mr Wilfred Kwaku Osei.”

“Each party shall bear its own costs in connection with these arbitration proceedings.

“All other or further claims are dismissed,” the ruling stated.

Football people may recall that in October last year, Mr Palmer was disqualified from the GFA presidential race by the Normalisation Committee, on the Vetting Committee’s recommendations.

On October 9, 2019, Palmer’s appeal over his disqualification was thrown out by the GFA, compelling him to file the case at the CAS Court two days later.

The GFA filed its defence on October 21, 2019.

On October 25, the CAS dismissed Palmer’s request to place an injunction on the GFA presidential election, and Mr Kurt Okraku was elected as the new GFA President on the same date.

However, on June 22, 2020, CAS threw out GFA’s claim that it had no jurisdiction in Palmer’s case.

In anticipation of its ruling, on July 17, 2020, CAS postponed the verdict to August 4, but postponed it again to September 1.

Meanwhile, on September 1, 2020, when the ruling finally came, CAS had ruled in favour of GFA, legitimising the reign of the current President, Kurt Okraku.

On October 4, 2019, the Normalisation Committee, acting as the Elections Committee for the GFA presidential and executive council elections, received the recommendations of the Vetting Committee.

By their recommendations, all, but Wilfred Osei Palmer, qualified to contest, following which the latter opted to appeal the decision.

Reports indicated the former Executive Committee Member had breached Article 33 (5) (c) of the GFA regulations, which relates to player transfer.

Again, the TemaYouth owner allegedly refused to pay the GFA 10 per cent of the transfer of striker Joseph Painstil to Hungarian side Ferencvarosi TC from Tema Youth in September 2017.

Reports also had it that the Normalisation Committee cited Palmer’s comments after the Black Star’s failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

In the 82 points petition to CAS, Palmer stated that the decision of the Normalisation Committee to disqualify him from contesting was “premeditated, preconceived and predetermined.”

Meanwhile, in a post on his twitter page yesterday, Mr Palmer said despite his reservations with the outcome, he had no option than to accept the ruling in good faith.

“…Even though I have issues against the main grounds for the delivery of the final verdict, I have no other alternative than to accept it in good faith and move on in life. At the end of the day, it is victory for Ghana football.

“It is my prayer that, we all continue to pool our resources to move Ghana Football forward to reach the desired heights that we all wish for…” the statement added.

 

 

The post Palmer pummeled by CAS appeared first on The Chronicle Online.

Read Full Story