20100628
africanews

Ghana will appeal against the decision to suspend influential midfielder Andre Dede Ayew from their crucial quarter-finals game against Uruguay following his accumulation of another yellow card during Saturday's 2-1 win over the United States at the World Cup, media reports say.

The youngster was booked by referee Viktor Kassai of Hungary for a tackle on American striker Jose Altidore but television replays showed that he did not clip the player from behind.

But Ghana Football Association (GFA) boss Kwesi Nyantakyi said they want FIFA to rescind the decision because the referee got it wrong.

“We are going to Johannesburg where Fifa has its tournament headquarters to appeal the decision to show Ayew the yellow card,” Nyantakyi told Ghanasoccernet.com.

“We have noted that the decision taken by the referee was a hasty and unfair one and this will be the basis for our appeal.

“With the evidence we have from television replays we are confident that we will be successful with the appeal.”

Ayew’s absence will be a massive blow for the Black Stars as he is one of the key players for the team in the tournament in South Africa.

The son of legend Abedi Pele says he is delighted that the Ghana Football Association have decided to take up the booking with Fifa.

“I am happy that the Ghana FA chiefs want to pursue the booking with Fifa because it is the right thing to do,” Ayew told Ghanasoccernet.

“As you can see I didn’t injure the player or go with an intention to injure him so I will be very happy if Fifa looks into it.

“I will be very happy if I am available to help my country Ghana and Africa progress because the quarter final is a crucial stage of the World Cup.”

Ghana will definitely miss defender Jonathan Mensah for the game against Uruguay as he was also given his booking of the tournament during the game against the United States.

The Ghana FA will not appeal that decision.

The Black Stars have joined Cameroon and Senegal as the only African countries to have reached the quarter finals of the World Cup.