GFA Disciplinary Committeee clears WAFA Coach John Kila

The GFA Disciplinary Committtee has dismissed the charge against coach of West African Football Academy SC, John Kila after considering the contents of the charge sheet, the oral evidence of the coach, the match report and the video of the said incident.

John Kila was charged for misconduct after he was alleged to have verbally abused 4th Referee Issaka Afful on or about the 36th minute of their First Capital Plus Premier League match against New Edubiase at the Obuasi Len Clay Stadium.

THE CHARGE
John Kila, the head coach of WAFA SC was charged with one count as per the Charge Sheet with regards to the First Capital Plus Premier League match between New Edubiase FC and WAFA SC played at Len Clay Stadium, Obuasi. John Kila was alleged to have verbally abused 4th Referee Issaka Afful on or about the 36th minute of the match, resulting in John Kila being ordered out of the inner parameter by the match referee which held up play for over two (2) minutes in breach of Articles 56 and 58 of the Disciplinary Code and Articles 35(1)(a), 35(3)(c) and 35(7)(d) of the GFA General Regulations.

DEFENCE
John Kila pleaded not guilty to the charge and attended the hearing of the Committee.

PROCEEDINGS AND FINDINGS
The Committee considered the depositions in the Charge Sheet, the oral evidence of John Kila, the video of the match and the reports of the match officials of the said match.

In his evidence before the Committee, John Kila explained that throughout his coaching profession he had never been sent off. He continued that the video of the match will clearly show his innocence. That it was rather the 4th Referee who approached him while in his technical area in an intimidating manner after he had disagreed with a bad call by the Referee. He stated that he did not spit on him as alleged on radio but that he rather requested the 4th Referee to leave him alone to continue with his work.

The Committee after watching the video of the match holds that on this occasion the presumption under Article 85 of the GFA Disciplinary Code cannot stand. Indeed, at all material times it was rather the 4th Referee who was in the face of the coach in the coach's technical area. The Committee holds that a coach is allowed to voice out his frustrations, within limits, in his technical area against what was a really bad call by the referee.

The Disciplinary Committee is satisfied with the evidence before it that the conduct of the coach did not amounted to misconduct and that John Kila not breach of the GFA Regulations.

DECISIONS
The Disciplinary Committee hereby dismisses the charge against Coach John Kila.