A video has taken over social media this week showing Hearts of Oak assistant coach, Gazale Abdulai, chasing a ballboy across the pitch in Tarkwa.
It all went down last Sunday at TNA Park during Hearts’ 1-0 loss to Medeama. The clip shows Gazale aggressively pursuing the young ball retriever after he allegedly delayed returning the ball to the Phobians. The chase was fast, tense, and caught the attention of fans both in the stadium and online.
The ballboy has since spoken out. “Hearts of Oak assistant coach Gazale slapped me, so I hit him back,” he said, adding more fuel to the fire around the now-viral video. The footage, shared widely, has sparked outrage and debates across Ghanaian football circles.
Following the incident, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has stepped in. Gazale has been formally charged under GFA regulatory actions, requiring him to appear before the GFA and report on the incident. He has until Thursday, 8 January 2026, to respond to the charge. The regulatory action is meant to ensure accountability and investigate what really happened on the field, including the alleged assault on the ballboy.
The situation has also raised questions about other elements of the incident. Some reports indicate that a police officer was allegedly assaulted during the commotion. Social media users and football followers have been quick to point out that if the officer had reacted in a similar way, it would have been called assault. Many are saying that the police have the right to file their own criminal complaint against Gazale if they choose to do so.
Fans and pundits alike are discussing more than just the chase. Questions about discipline, professionalism, and the limits of passion in football are at the forefront. Coaches are expected to drive their teams hard, but where does encouragement stop and aggression begin? Gazale’s actions, caught in high definition on video, have put all of that under scrutiny.
For Hearts of Oak, this is another challenging moment. The club, which has a huge following across Ghana, now faces both reputational and regulatory pressure. The timing also couldn’t be worse, as the team is pushing for results in the league, and tempers are already running high.
As of now, Gazale has not publicly commented on the charge. The football community is watching closely to see how the GFA will handle this high-profile disciplinary matter. One thing is clear: what started as a minor delay in returning a ball has now become a national talking point, sparking debates about respect, rules, and accountability in Ghanaian football.
This incident is a reminder that actions on the pitch have consequences off it, and the GFA’s intervention shows that no one is above scrutiny, not even assistant coaches of top clubs like Hearts of Oak.
