By S. Matthew M. Quoi, Jr.
MONROVIA: The Liberia Football Association (LFA) Grievance and Disciplinary Committee has expelled FC Fassell President Cassell Anthony Kuoh from the Association and banned him from all football-related activities for allegedly violating LFA and FIFA statutes.
The disciplinary action followed a formal complaint filed by Melton Yoko, President of Small Town Football Academy, accusing Kuoh of taking an internal football dispute to an ordinary civil court.
According to the complaint, Kuoh sought a court injunction against the LFA, prompting an investigation by the Association’s Grievance and Disciplinary Committee.
Following its review, the Committee concluded that Kuoh’s decision to seek redress through the civil court system constituted a serious breach of football’s statutory framework.
The Committee said Articles 18 and 19 of the LFA Statutes require football-related disputes to be resolved exclusively through established internal judicial and arbitration mechanisms.
It further ruled that resorting to an ordinary court undermined the integrity and independence of the Association’s dispute-resolution process.
The Committee also described Kuoh’s action as third-party interference in the governance and electoral affairs of the LFA, which it said is prohibited under both LFA and FIFA regulations.
Acting Chairman of the Grievance and Disciplinary Committee Jenkins Pelenah said the investigation established violations of Articles 2, 18.3 and 19 of the LFA Statutes, as well as Article 51 of the FIFA Statutes.
Based on those findings, the Committee determined that Kuoh’s conduct amounted to a serious violation of football governance rules.
The decision was reached under Chapter 15, Article 27 of the LFA 2018 Approved Statutes, as amended.
The Committee ruled that Kuoh had forfeited his membership in the Association and ordered his immediate expulsion from the LFA and all football-related activities.
The ban applies to football activities under the jurisdiction of the LFA, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the West African Football Union (WAFU).
The ruling is expected to have significant implications for FC Fassell and Liberia’s football administration as stakeholders await any possible appeal through the appropriate sporting judicial channels.
