Ghana coach defends player suspensions

Ghana's coach Kwesi Appiah addresses a press conference at the Mane Garrincha National Stadium in Brasilia on June 25, 2014, on the eve of their group G FIFA World Cup football match against Portugal. AFP
Ghana's coach Kwesi Appiah addresses a press conference at the Mane Garrincha National Stadium in Brasilia on June 25, 2014, on the eve of their group G FIFA World Cup football match against Portugal. AFP

Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah said the country's football chiefs were right to order home star players Kevin-Prince Boateng and Sulley Muntari.

Muntari, 29, is accused of attacking a member of the management team, Moses Armah, while Boateng, 27, is said to have verbally abused national team coach Appiah, the Ghana FA said.

"The decision to send two players home... has got to do with disciplinary issues," said Appiah. "At this level you look at a team, you don't just concentrate on at just one player."

"If you want to build a team and instil discipline it's always important that you set things right so that it doesn't affect the team in the future," he added, saying the decision was taken on Wednesday.