Topic: lley Muntari and Kevin-Prince Boaten
BRASILIA, Brazil -- Ghana threw Sulley Muntari and Kevin-Prince Boateng out of its World Cup squad for disciplinary reasons on Thursday, plunging the African team into further chaos ahead of its decisive group-stage match against Portugal. Just a day after seeming to resolve a possible player mutiny over World Cup bonus payments, the Ghana Football Association released two separate statements saying two of the countrys stars had been "suspended ... indefinitely from the Black Stars with immediate effect." 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, one statement read. The other statement said Boateng was dropped from the squad because of "vulgar verbal insults targeted at coach Kwesi Appiah" during a training session this week. "Boateng has since showed no remorse for his actions which has resulted in the decision," the statement added. Both players have had their World Cup accreditation withdrawn. Boateng, who plays for German club Schalke, told German newspaper Sport Bild that he accepted his suspension and wished his teammates well for Thursdays game against Portugal -- "but no one should think that I insulted the coach or did anything wrong." Boateng said he and Muntari had been joking with each other during training Wednesday. The coach asked why they were laughing, and then sent Boateng to the dressing room, he added. "After training I went to the coach and asked him if he had a minute for me. I asked him what he had against me," Boateng was quoted as saying. "Then he started shouting at me." Ghana, a quarterfinalist in 2010, must beat Portugal in Brasilia on Thursday to stand any chance of reaching the second round from Group G. Muntari was suspended for the match after collecting two yellow cards. Ghanas World Cup campaign was already in turmoil following a row over appearance-fee payments that squad members had been promised but had not yet received. The countrys cash-strapped federation had been forced to ask FIFA for an advance on the $8 million prize money it is guaranteed from playing at the World Cup to pay outstanding debts to players. FIFA said Wednesday that Ghanas request was "under evaluation." Ghanas deputy sports minister earlier had said that as much as $3 million in cash was being flown into Brazil from the West African nation to finally pay the bonuses to the unhappy players, averting a possible player strike. World Cup prize money -- which ranges in Brazil from $8 million for being knocked out in the group stage to $35 million for winning the title -- is normally paid after the tournament. Ghana midfielder Christian Atsu dismissed fears the team would boycott its final group game in Brasilia over the bonus-payment row. "We are not going to say we are not going to play because of the money," Atsu said. "We love our nation and we are going to play for our nation." Appiah said Wednesday that he had been having "sleepless nights" this week, and also said he had patched up his differences with Boateng after a training-ground altercation. Custom Tampa Bay Rays Jerseys . Grimes signed a $32 million, four-year contract to remain with Miami. The deal, which includes $16 million guaranteed, rewards Grimes for his recovery from an Achilles tendon injury that forced him to miss almost all of the 2012 season. Tampa Bay Rays Jerseys . The three Calgary natives will compete after the sport was skipped by the Vancouver Games in 2010 but later included on the program for Sochi, Russia. The fight to include womens ski jumping prior to Vancouver went to the courts only to have the Supreme Court of Canada rule against the athletes appeal in 2009. http://www.officialraysgearshop.com/Ray … s-Jersey/. Defenceman Tessa Bonhomme was among three players released from the team Tuesday morning along with defenceman Brigette Lacquette of Waterhen, Man. Joey Wendle Jersey .com) - It appears both the Houston Rockets and Chicago Bulls will reach the playoffs, but the two squads are coming off losing efforts. Carlos Gomez Jersey . "He came up to me and said, I want to train," said Toronto coach Ryan Nelsen. The 26-year-old midfielder is expected to play Saturday night when Toronto hosts D.C. United, returning to his Major League Soccer squad with mixed feelings about the Americans World Cup run -- sad that it ended when it did but proud of his teams performance.Winnipeg, MB (SportsNetwork.com) - Timothy Madigan made his short par putt on No. 18 and he outlasted Matt Hill and Ricky McDonald to win The Players Cup by one shot.Madigan, who shot an even-par 71 on Sunday at Pine Ridge Golf Club, was on the par-4 18th green in two and he needed a two-putt to win. He did just that and earned his first career victory on the PGA Tour Canada, ending at 9- under 275.Matt Hill and Ricky McDonald finished one shot back at 8-under 276. Hill fired a final-round 67, while McDonald shot a 69. Clark Klaasen ended alone in fourth place at 7-under after his 67 on Sunday.Ryan Yip (69), Jay Myers (70) and Josh Persons (72) all finished tied for fifth at 6-under 278. Beon Yeong Lee ended alone in eighth, four shots back at 5-under after his final-round 70.Madigan began the day three shots ahead of the field and was able to hold off a number of players down the stretch to earn the win.On the front nine, Madigan made bogey on the par-4 sixth and parred the rest, making the turn at 1-over for the day. He sank his first birdie of the dday at No.dddddddddddd 12, but Madigan gave that shot right back at No. 14, falling into a 4-way tie for first with Hill, McDonald and Myers.Madigan responded right away with his biggest birdie of the week at the par-5 15th, and he was right back in the lead at 9-under.With Hill already in the clubhouse at 8-under, McDonald finished his round with all pars, while Myers bogeyed his final two holes to drop off the pace.Madigan needed just three pars to capture his first career victory and that is what he did.McDonald had an opportunity to tie Madigan on the 18th hole when he knocked his second shot about 30 feet away from the hole. With Madigan in the fairway at 18, McDonalds birdie effort would not go.NOTES: Madigan has not missed the cut in five events this year and he now has three top-3 finishes on PGA Tour Canada. He also finished tied for second at the Bayview Place Island Savings Open to go along with a third-place finish at Syncrude Boreal Open ... The PGA Tour Canada is back in action next week at the inaugural Staal Foundation Open. ' ' '