Kevin-Prince Boateng, the former Ghanaian international footballer, has shed light on the circumstances surrounding his unexpected departure from the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. Boateng has suggested that he was removed from the Black Stars camp for taking a principled stand against what he perceived as wrongdoing by officials from the Ghana Football Association (GFA).
Boateng, alongside Sulley Muntari, was dismissed from the team’s camp the morning before Ghana’s crucial final group-stage match, which they eventually lost 2-1 to Portugal.
The German-born forward was reportedly accused of disrespecting coach Kwesi Appiah, which led to his expulsion. Muntari, on the other hand, was said to have been involved in an altercation with Moses Armah, a member of the Black Stars’ management committee. While Muntari has since issued an apology, Boateng has now revealed his side of the story in an interview with former Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand.
Boateng recalled, “I got kicked out from the national team and Schalke in the same season.” He explained that during a meeting, he had criticized Ghanaian officials, expressing his belief that “they can’t treat us like that” and suggesting that players should receive fair compensation considering the revenue generated. According to Boateng, this critique did not sit well with the officials, leading to his expulsion.
He went on to describe how he received a letter under his hotel room door at 6 in the morning on the day of the crucial match against Portugal. The letter instructed him to leave the team hotel within 15 minutes and surrender his credentials, effectively ending his participation in the tournament.
Boateng expressed his disappointment that none of his teammates spoke up in support of his actions. He emphasized that his intentions were not self-serving but aimed at benefiting the team as a whole.
Reflecting on the situation, Boateng admitted that he should have apologized to the GFA. He holds great respect for Ghanaians and acknowledges their passion for football. Born in Germany to a Ghanaian father, Boateng had committed to playing for Ghana before the 2010 World Cup, where he had a successful tournament, scoring two goals in 15 appearances for the national team. Since then, the 33-year-old forward has retired from professional football.
