Alhaji Karim Grusah has blasted city rivals Kumasi Asante Kotoko, for their ‘laissez-faire’ attitude towards his club’s litigation with the Ghana Football Association (GFA).
King Faisal is in court to seek reliefs over the club’s status in the premier league after last season saw them among three clubs relegated.
Faisal are citing anomalies in the disciplinary and appeals committees rulings which ignored their claims of irregularities in Aduana’s application of stay of execution and appeal when they got fined for protesting against Hearts of Oak during the David Duncan saga.
The GFA refused to answer Faisal’s court claims but rather questioned the jurisdiction of the court over what they termed as a football matter which according to rules corroborated by FIFA, should not go to court.
This created a preliminary hearing on whether the High Court could sit on the case or not; a question which was answered by Justice Essel Mensah when he ruled on Monday that his court had the jurisdiction to preside over football litigation.
The GFA and Aduana who are an interested party have further been ordered to respond to Faisal’s claims and return at a further date for the actual hearing of the case.
Relieved by the verdict and brimming with confidence, Grusah spoke about the support he has received from the other clubs.
“Many clubs have called to lend their support covertly. But my biggest worry has always been with Asante Kotoko and Hearts of Oak.
”They are the two biggest clubs in Ghana and when they sneeze together Ghana football can’t do anything than catch the fever. I expect them to come out to speak on this matter yet, Kotoko who are our Kumasi cousins for instance, have decided to hush and only watch as the GFA tries to tie our hands behind our backs and hit us in the tummy,” he said.
“The only correspondence I have had from Kotoko on this issue is from a section of their fans and not from management,” he added.
”Come to think of it, there is a funny popular opinion that I am an anti-Kotoko. Though it is not true, will you blame me if that is the case?” he queried.
Grusah then revealed that Kotoko’s avowed rivals Accra Hearts of Oak have rather communicated and sympathized with him.
”I have received a text message from Hearts commending me for my resolve to seek justice and I am grateful to them.”
It is believed Hearts majority shareholder Togbe Afede is of the belief Faisal were handed a raw deal by the judiciary bodies of the GFA.
