Why I hit back at Muntari - Moses Armah

The President of Medeama Sporting Club, Moses Armah, says he was provoked by Sulley Muntari to retaliate after he was attacked by the Black Stars midfielder during a meeting in Brasilia last week.

The usually calm Mr Armah, also known as Mospacka, a member of the FA Executive Committee, said he reluctantly hit back after he had received two slaps from the player.

"Initially, I didn't want to touch him because he is a player but I was compelled to defend myself when he slapped my face twice," Mr Armah told the Graphic Sports in an interview yesterday.

Narrating his ordeal to the Graphic Sports on phone from the US, the Black Stars Management Committee member said he and his colleagues found Muntari's behaviour very strange, as if  he was possessed.

According to him, it all started when the players called the management members to a meeting regarding the team's appearance fees last Tuesday following a sudden boycott of training earlier that day.

He said during the meeting the players were assured of payment of their money as promised by the government earlier.

"When it came to my turn to speak I urged the players to be patient while we all waited for the money in Brazil as promised by the President," he recalled.

He said he had hardly finished speaking when Muntari rose up and shouted at him to keep quiet, to the surprise of everybody present.

"He then approached me and slapped me in the face. But because he is a player I hesitated to reply but he returned to give me another slap which infuriated me, and that compelled me to reply him with a heavy blow straight to his face," he added.

The Medeama SC chief noted that the power behind the punch sent the player reeling on the floor, leaving him with a bloodied face.

It was then that people at the meeting stepped in to separate them and sent him to his hotel room.

But while thinking the fight was over, Muntari suddenly rushed into his room, wearing only his shorts and tried to attack him again but for  the intervention of some national security officials present who whisked him to the porch while FA officials restrained the player in the room.

He said a few minutes later, an incensed Muntari got up, took hold of the FA men’s three mobile phones and laptop and smashed them on the ground, damaging them in the process.

Mr Armah said could not fathom what came over the player to behave the way he did.

He said following the player's behaviour he was impressed upon to relocate to another hotel, which he did.

He further disclosed that following the incident Muntari's parents called him from Ghana to apologise for their son's behaviour.

"I was also told that Muntari's wife came looking for me to apologise on her husband's behalf when I left the hotel," he revealed.

He described what happened in the Stars campaign in Brazil as unfortunate but still believed that the team had a huge tential for the future.