I was kicked out for "asking where the money went" - Boateng

Ghana midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng has alleged that he was kicked out of the Black Stars camp in Brazil for daring to ask the Ghana Football Association (GFA) “where the money went”.

The GFA handed Boateng an indefinite suspension Thursday for, according to them, verbally insulting Coach Kwasi Appiah during the team’s training session in Maceio. The FA said the decision was taken after the Schalke midfielder refused to show remorse.

The 27-year-old was thrown out alongside team-mate Sulley Muntari ahead of Ghana’s crucial match against Portugal, which the Black Stars eventually lost 2-1 – a development that saw them exit the World Cup in the first round with only one point from a possible nine.

However, in an interview with Football Italia Sunday, Boateng strenuously denied accusations that he had insulted the coach.

He said: “I was in a game between ranks and turned to Muntari, asking him if he was the referee. The Coach thought I was talking to him and that I’d said something offensive.

“At that point, he started insulting me in front of everyone, despite the fact both I and Sulley had tried to explain the situation. All the other players heard.

“I think Appiah had a problem with me and was only looking for a reason to send me away. To be honest, I was thrown out.”

Boateng wondered why he had been sent home on Thursday when the incident happened on Sunday. According to him, if his alleged altercation with the coach had serious, he would have sent home on Monday.

“Why did he send me away on Thursday if the incident in question happened the previous Sunday? I can’t explain it. If I’d really done something wrong, why not take action on Monday?”

The former German youth player was of the opinion that he was sacked from camp because he questioned the FA President, Kwasi  Nyantakyi, as to where the money from FIFA meant for the welfare of players had gone. He said he questioned Nyantakyi because Ghana's World Cup preparations had been agonisingly "amateurish". 

Boateng said: “I think it is really because I met with the President of the GFA for 20 minutes and asked where the money from FIFA had gone.

“Everyone seems to think we live the high life. Obviously we are honoured to play for the National team, but the way we travel and our hotels... I don’t think they’re spending money for our journeys.

“I simply wanted to know where the money given to us by FIFA was going. If you look at the other teams, they can bring their families along, but for us it was a horrible experience.

“This is why we went out, as we only earned one point and it was impossible to do better in those circumstances."

The GFA has yet to respond to the allegations.