Ghana football authorities (GFA) have rejected claims linking national team goalkeeper Benjamin Asare to an alleged theft incident during the national team’s stay in Austria, describing the reports as false and damaging.
The allegations, which circulated widely on social media, suggested that valuables had been stolen from members of Ghana national team, known as the Black Stars, while they were in Vienna. Reports claimed two players lost personal belongings, including a Rolex watch said to be worth $20,000, while a member of the technical staff reportedly lost more than $2,000.
Amid the speculation, some online posts accused Hearts of Oak goalkeeper Benjamin Asare of involvement in the incident.
However, both the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and his club have strongly dismissed these claims.
In a statement, Hearts of Oak said there was no truth to the allegations and reaffirmed their support for the player.
“We wish to categorically state that these reports are entirely false, misleading, and defamatory. The Club has engaged directly with the Ghana Football Association, and both parties confirm that there is absolutely no truth to these claims,” part of the statement read.
The club added that it had taken steps to address the spread of what it described as misinformation, reporting individuals responsible to the appropriate authorities for further investigation.
The Ghana Football Association also moved swiftly to counter the claims, confirming that the matter had been referred to the police. General Secretary Prosper Harrison Addo said the authorities were treating the issue seriously.
“The Ghana Police Service is active. Within minutes of seeing the heartless, hurtful and malicious fake post, we engaged the Ghana Police Service. GFA and the club are on the same page. This police pursuit is without prejudice to any legal action Mr. Benjamin Asare may also take,” he stated.
The governing body’s response comes as concerns grow over the rapid spread of unverified information online, particularly when it involves high-profile individuals and national teams.
Despite the controversy, attention is now returning to football matters.
Ghana are preparing for an upcoming international fixture against Germany in Stuttgart on 30 March.
Asare, who did not feature in Ghana’s recent defeat to Austria, could still play a role in the next match. Head coach Otto Addo is expected to consider changes to his squad as the team looks to improve its performance.
The incident highlights the challenges faced by teams off the pitch, even as preparations continue for important international matches. For now, both club and country appear united in defending the goalkeeper and addressing what they describe as false allegations.
