CAS set to announce Palmer vs GFA case landmark verdict today

After postponing its ruling on two occasions previously, the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) is expected to announce its verdict on the case between Wilfred Osei Kwaku ‘Palmer’ and the Ghana Football Association (GFA) today.

The verdict by the Swiss court was previously scheduled to be announced on July 17 but was postponed to August 4. Anticipation grew higher among football circles in the country on August 4, in earnest wait for the announcement by CAS, but proved futile as the world sports court decided to, for the second time, adjourn the verdict to today, September 1, 2020.

For starters, the Tema Youth Football Club President, Palmer, was barred from contesting the GFA presidential elections in October 2019 by the GFA’s Normalization Committee on claims of lacking integrity.

Palmer filed a petition at CAS after exhausting all procedures domestically, seeking for a reverse of the decision. After unsuccessful attempts domestically through the GFA’s judicial bodies, the Tema Youth financier dragged the matter to CAS, seeking to clear his name of all the allegations leveled against him, as well as a declaration of the GFA elections results a nullity.

The October elections saw Kurt E. S. Okraku elected President of the GFA, succeeding Kwasi Nyantakyi. A win for Palmer may mean that the elections would be reorganised. Possible outcomes are that, Palmer may have his name cleared of all the allegations, making him eligible to contest future elections of the GFA, with the results of the previous elections made to stand for the Kurt Okraku led administration to continue in office for the next three years. On the other hand, the elections results may be annulled for reelection should all that Palmer seeks be granted, or the GFA may win it all. While Palmer looks favourite in the much anticipated verdict, the ultimate lies in the hands of CAS and lovers of the game in the country remain seated with fingers crossed in earnest anticipation.