The Sports Minister, Isaac Asiamah, says the government is considering allowing spectators into stadiums when football resumes.
According to him, the government plans to introduce COVID-19 protocols to make it possible for fans to attend when it lifts the ban on contact sports.
The minister gave his assurance that domestic football, which has been suspended since March, will bounce back very soon. He said the government will lift the ban on football when it becomes conducive and safe for players and everyone involved in the sport.
“Just recently, the president spoke about the measures we are putting in place to control the coronavirus,” Asiamah said, as quoted by Graphic.com.gh.
“I plead with you, God willing, the protocols we are working on will ensure that the president would speak again and football would bounce back.”
Safety of supporters
It is not known when the ban on contact sports will be lifted, although President Akufo-Addo in his last COVID-19 address, said it could happen soon.’
The Sports Minister reiterated the president’s stance, as he insisted the government also intends to guarantee the safety of supporters when they go to watch games.
He explained that supporters are a vital part of the game and measures are being put in place to ensure they are safe when football resumes.
“Paramount in the protocols will be the safety of supporters. They are very important to the government. Supporters make the game beautiful. so they have to be protected.
“It won’t be long: football will bounce back, looking at the measures we will put in place. However, everyone who loves the game must be protected. That is very vital,” Asiamah said.
VAR in Ghana football
Meanwhile, the Ghana Football Association is taking steps to introduce video assistant referees (VAR) in domestic football competitions.
The GFA’s referees manager, Alex Kotey, said the technology should be rolled out fully in the next three years.
“VAR is coming to Ghana, but there is a lot of work that we need to do to ensure that VAR comes to this country,” he said.
“FIFA is saying that, by the next three years, VAR must go to all member associations, and so member associations must begin to accept this concept and let it become part of our football.”
Should the GFA implement the technology successfully, Ghana will become just the fourth African nation to embrace VAR after South Africa, Morocco and Egypt.
E A Alanore
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