Two of Ghana's star players, Kevin-Prince Boateng and Sulley Muntari, have been sent home from Brazil on the day of their team's crucial match against Portugal.
Reporter Gary Al-Smith, who has been covering the Ghanaian team, broke the news this morning.
BREAK: #GHA coach Kwesi Appiah confirms sacking Kevin-Prince Boateng and Sulley Muntari from team camp.
A pair of statements on the website of the Ghana Football Association confirmed that they have both been suspended indefinitely.
The statements said that Muntari was suspended "in the wake of his unprovoked physical attack on an Executive Committee member of the GFA and a management member of the Black Stars, Mr. Moses Armah on Tuesday 24th June, 2014 during a meeting."
Boateng, meanwhile, was suspended "following Boateng's vulgar verbal insults targeted at coach Kwesi Appiah during the team's training session in Maceio this week."
Muntari currently plays for A.C. Milan, while Boateng plays for Schalke 04. Both have previously appeared in the English Premier League for Portsmouth. Muntari would have been suspended for the final group match regardless, as he had recieved two yellow cards in the previous matches.
The pair had reportedly been in a fight two days ago, which spilled over into further acrimony.
#GHA crisis: Muntari & Boateng fought 2 days ago, which spilled over to Boateng insulting the coach when queried about it. #clubmetro
Multiple reports: Sulley Muntari assaulted a #GHA management committee member yesterday. More reports on @Citi973 & @SuperSportTV
It comes after a wild few days for the Black Stars, who have been hit by disputes over unpaid appearance fees and match-rigging allegations.
Here's the $3m cash owed to Ghana's World Cup team, being carried in convoy through Brasilia (Photo via @rede_globo)
They were also hit by a report from the London Daily Telegraph and Channel 4's Dispatches programme that senior officials in the Ghanaian FA had agreed to have the team play in matches organised by match fixers. (The GFA denied any knowledge of the match fixing plans, and said that they had asked police to investigate.)
Ghana plays Portugal today, while the USA takes on Germany, with all four teams in Group G still able to qualify for the round of 16.
