The 2007-2008 Premier Football league of Ghana may have officially ended on Sunday July 6th but judging from the not too past history of this national pastime the end is yet to come. The relegation exercise has always created problems and there have been several instances when the system had to be varied to save certain clubs. We have it on record that at one stage the relegation was completely scrapped and the explanation was that it was in the national interest. "It is a national league and must cover the entire nation" went the argument.

Currently there is the thorny issue two clubs in the relegation zone Zaytuna and Tema Real Sportive that must be settled before we can see our way clear for the next season.

Real Sportive has given notice of an appeal against the deduction of points from their build up and the subsequent award of three points to Zaytuna following a protest against Real Sportive for allegedly fielding an unqualified player in their match on June 18 which Sportive won 1-0. The talk in town is why the protest was so delayed and the points awarded to Zaytuna at the tail end of the league when relegation was in sight.

Isaac Benson, Chief Executive of Sportive says his club also has a protest against Tema Youth for fielding an unqualified player Abdel Ganiyu and has promised to pursue those two issues to their logical conclusion Even though it is doubtful if Sportive can escape relegation even if they won the appeals they could simply follow the bad example set by certain clubs in the past and disturb the peace of the Football Association by going to court if a clear cut decision is not made to end the dispute

I recall what happened in 1984 when the start of the league was delayed and Neoplan Stars from Kumasi unceremoniously lost their premier division status following a court injunction by Bolgatanga Upper United. Eventually the original 12 club league had to go ahead with 11 clubs.

Bolgatanga Upper United had argued in court that they qualified from the middle league to play in the top division and not Neoplan Stars. The Football Association apparently was not interested in playing football in the law courts and the case could not be resolved until the end of the competition. Neoplan were deemed to have technically lost all their matches and were subsequently placed last on the league table and of course relegated.

As I often say Ghana football has gone past those hellish days but in order to set the records straight the Football Association should as early as possible publish the official league table and tell the nation which clubs will face relegation and close the chapter on the season.

Meanwhile it would be interesting to find out the reason for the complete blackout in the print media about the rowdy scenes that characterized the titanic battle of survival league match between Real Tamale United and Zaytuna at Sunyani on Sunday July 6. Live radio commentary described how referee Mercy Tagoe was attacked by irate Zaytuna players when Real Tamale United got their equalising goal after Zaytuna had taken the lead. The live reports vividly described how the referee ably defended herself with a series of excellent karate movements of the body.

The live commentary told listeners Tamale United’s winning goal nearly brought the game to an abrupt end as crowd violence erupted but it was blank in the sporting press. This is strange.

It is hoped that the Football Association were able to send TV cameras and independent observers to the match as promised.

If TV coverage confirms any hooliganism on and off the pitch the Football Association should not hesitate to take the appropriate sanctions.. FIFA is very much concerned about crowd violence that invariably leads to unnecessary loss of lives.