Claim: Social media users claim that Sulley Muntari has finally apologized to the Ghana Football Association (GFA) after a reported physical attack on a Black Stars Management Committee member during the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
The letter that is being circulated is not recent. The GFA first featured it in a 2016 publication. Moreover, the General Secretary of the Association says that no fresh apology has been received from the player since 2016.
Full Text
As Ghana prepares for a make or break 2022 World Cup qualifier against Nigeria, there are reports, especially reports on social media, suggesting that Hearts of Oak midfielder and former Ghanaian international , Sulley Muntari, has finally apologized to the GFA for acts of violence he perpetrated during the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
These reports can be found here, here, here, and here.
In the letter, the footballer, who now plays for Accra-based Hearts of Oak, said that he had reflected on what happened and was deeply sorry.
The letter concluded with the former AC Milan midfielder expressing his readiness to “play for the Senior National Team of Ghana” whenever he is invited.
The letter was also read on the midday bulletin of Accra-based Joy 99.7FM.
This follows calls by some sports personalities for the footballer to be invited to feature for the Men’s senior national team in the upcoming 2022 World Cup play-offs against Nigeria.
The apology is presumed to be a perfect setup for the return of Muntari who is likely to be invited to the Black Stars for the must-win play-off against Nigeria.
He last played for the Stars in 2014.
Verification
A basic search on Google led us to a 2016 publication on the official website of the Ghana Football Association.
The publication was about an apology letter that the footballer had sent to the Ghana Football Association.
Several other news portals, including goal, myjoyonline, citifmonline, and modernghana had published a story to highlight the apology from Sulley Muntari who was plying his trade with Al-Ittihad Club in Saudi Arabia at the time
The content of the 2016 letter which can be found on the GFA website is the same as what is being circulated on social media and was subsequently featured on the midday bulletin of Joy FM.
The General Secretary of the Ghana Football Association, Prosper Harrison Addo, has also told DUBAWA that no fresh apology has been received from the Hearts of Oak player.
“Sulley Muntary’s apology was sent to us years ago. He has not sent any new letter and there is no need for him to even send a new letter,” Prosper Harrison Addo told DUBAWA.
Attempts to get Sulley Muntari to comment on the matter have been futile.
Conclusion
It is not true that Sulley Muntari has sent a fresh apology to the Ghana Football Association. The letter that is being circulated online dates back to 2016.
