Ras Mubarak, a former Member of Parliament for the Kumbungu Constituency, has taken on the Ghana Football Association over the appointment of John Paintsil as one of the two assistant coaches of the Black Stars.
Ras Mubarak’s criticism of John Paintsil’s appointment seems to focus more on the ex-footballer’s deeply rooted affection for Israel than on his competence as a coach.
The former lawmaker believes that the Ghana Football Association could have appointed a more qualified ex-footballer than John Paintsil.
He questioned why the Ghana Football Association appointed someone who was at the centre of controversy for celebrating with the flag of Israel at the 2006 World Cup.
“Of all the highly qualified Ghanaians who could have been assistant coaches, our F.A. decided to give the job to the least qualified person. A man who chose to wave the flag of fake Israel, a brutal apartheid entity, at a time he was donning our jersey and on a platform provided by Ghana.
” What criteria did the FA use in making Joh
n Paintsil the Zionist apologist, our national team’s assistant coach? It’s scandalous,” he posted on Facebook.
John Paintsil and the Israel flag
John Paintsil became the subject of unexpected controversy during the 2006 FIFA World Cup when he raised an Israeli flag after a match against the Czech Republic.
The incident was not a political statement but a result of an emotional moment after Ghana won its first World Cup match.
The incident occurred on June 17, 2006, after Ghana secured a surprise 2-0 victory over the Czech Republic.
Paintsil, then playing for Israeli club Hapoel Tel Aviv, ran onto the pitch with the Israeli flag and waved it to the crowd.
Paintsil’s action angered many Arabs, who saw it as a provocation. This impromptu gesture was not meant to be political but a symbol of unity and appreciation.
Paintsil later apologized for raising the Israeli flag, saying that he had not meant to offend anyone.
He explained that he had done it to show his appreciation for the support he had received
from his club, Hapoel Tel Aviv, and its fans.
The issue was resolved, and FIFA did not impose any disciplinary actions on John Paintsil.
Source: Ghana Web
