Hearts of Oak will have to defend their African Champions League title away from home after CAF decided to suspend them from playing at the Accra Sports Stadium.
After a heated five-hour emergency meeting of the CAF executive committee, it was decided that Hearts are suspended for one year, following the incidents that marred the Champions League final at the venue on December 17.
Hearts’ alternative venue should be situated 200 km from the Accra Sports stadium, according to the CAF ruling, which comes two months after the final was played.
Ghana’s second largest city, Kumasi should be the ideal venue for the African champions since it has the facilities to stage international matches.
The Obuasi Stadium which is just 90 km away from Kumasi should also be another venue Hearts would have consider.
On Sunday, Hearts will play Cup-Winners holders Zamalek in Kumasi for the African Super Cup.
The match was moved to Kumasi following the chaotic Champions League final.
Only Hearts of Oak are affected by the CAF decision, but the national team’s World Cup and Nations Cup qualifiers will go ahead at the Accra stadium..
Hearts will play Etoile of Congo Brazzaville to open the defence of their title on April 1.
Police fired teargas at missile throwing fans and play was stopped for almost 20 minutes before order was restored during the second-leg final.
Delegates of CAF including Ghana’s former vice president, Professor John Atta Mills had to take cover from the teargas.
Hearts were trailing by a lone goal when the incidents began, but two goals by Emmanuel Osei Kuffour and Ishmael Addo gave Hearts a 3-1 win.
Both players scored a goal each in the first-leg two weeks earlier to give the Ghanaian side a 2-1 win in Tunis.
Source: GhanaWeb
