Inter Allies TD Confesses to 2021 Match-Fixing, But Claims GFA’s Judgment Was Unfair
Technical Director of Inter Allies Football Club, Willie Klutse, has acknowledged that some of the team’s players were involved in fixing a Ghana Premier League match against AshantiGold in 2021. However, he maintains that the Ghana Football Association (GFA) acted unfairly in its disciplinary process and handed out overly harsh punishments.
The controversial game in question ended with an unusual 7-0 victory for AshantiGold, with Inter Allies defender Hashmin Musah famously scoring two deliberate own goals. Musah later claimed he had done so to sabotage a pre-arranged bet on the match result. His statement sparked widespread outrage and led to a thorough investigation by the GFA’s Disciplinary Committee.
Following the probe, the GFA sanctioned over 30 players and officials, with some receiving lengthy bans from football activities. Both Inter Allies and AshantiGold were also demoted from the Ghana Premier League. The GFA concluded that there had been a deliberate effort by both teams to manipulate the outcome of the game.
Speaking in an interview on Luv FM, Willie Klutse admitted that certain Inter Allies players did indeed conspire to fix the game, but he insisted the club as an institution had no prior knowledge of the scheme. “Some of the players were involved in fixing the game, that’s true. But it wasn’t the club’s directive. It was individual players who did it,” Klutse stated.
He went on to accuse the GFA of failing to investigate the matter thoroughly and claimed the association had punished the club without listening to its side of the story. “The way the GFA handled the issue wasn’t fair. They didn’t invite the club to explain our position before taking such a drastic decision,” he added.
Klutse believes the GFA should have taken a more nuanced approach, distinguishing between individuals and the club’s management. He feels the punishment was blanket and unjustified, particularly because the leadership had no control over what some players did without approval.
Despite the confession, Klutse argued that Inter Allies has suffered reputational damage and financial setbacks as a result of what he considers unfair treatment. He urged the GFA to revisit its disciplinary processes and provide better mechanisms for clubs to defend themselves in such circumstances.
The match-fixing scandal remains one of the most controversial episodes in recent Ghanaian football history, drawing widespread criticism and raising questions about the integrity of the league.
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