Footballer Jojo Ofosu-Amaah slams SFNL for sweeping investigation ‘under the rug’
A local football star has hit out at his league with claims the investigation into his cardiac arrest has been “swept under the rug”.
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Keysborough player Jojo Ofosu-Amaah has hit out at the Southern Football Netball League over an investigation into his on field cardiac arrest.
Ofosu-Amaah dropped to the ground approximately 50m away from the ball just before three-quarter time during a game against Skye at Carrum Downs Recreational Reserve in late April.
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The talented footballer’s heart stopped on the field for five minutes before CPR and a defibrillator brought him back to life.
He was loaded into an ambulance and rushed to hospital where he underwent open heart surgery for six hours.
An investigation into the incident was launched after Ofosu-Amaah claimed he was punched before going into cardiac arrest.
A SFNL spokesman said to the Herald Sun the incident was “fully investigated” under by-laws but there was “insufficient evidence” to bring a charge.
Ofosu-Amaah posted a blistering response to the league over the claim of “insufficient evidence”.
“No one asked me for a statement!” Ofosu-Amaah wrote on social media.
“The SFNL has not checked in with me once regarding my health or wellbeing.”
Appearing on 774 ABC Melbourne radio on Thursday morning, the footballer took aim at the league once more for, as he said, not adequately investigating the matter.
“From what I’m told from one of the players who was standing next to me, a few opposition players came over and jumped on top of me and at least one of them hit me,” he said to Virginia Trioli.
“I’m still struggling to sleep and my mental health has taken a turn for the worse, but it’s more so because of how it’s been handled by the league.
“They haven’t taken a statement from me or either of the trainers or (the teammates who were) first on the scene. Nobody has been interviewed in a formal interview.
“My real concern is that nobody reached out to me from the opposition club or the league. No one has checked in on my health or wellbeing.
“No one has taken my statement or the trainers. It seems to be swept under the rug.”
After being asked if he’s chasing some consequence and fault to come out of the incident he was adamant that’s what he is looking for.
“100 per cent, I need the league to admit they’re in the wrong and they haven’t investigated this properly,” he said.
“I need the opposition club and obviously the people that attacked me to come forward, they shouldn’t be out there still playing.”
The 25-year-old told the Herald Sun he was devastated by the league’s lack of action and had contacted Gordon Legal over the incident.
“We are discussing all of our legal options at the moment,” he said.
The statement from the Southern Football Netball League said statements had been taken from “players and officials of both participant clubs”.
“Witness statements in evidence were obtained from players and officials of both participant Clubs and the League match day officials,” the statement read.
“As part of the investigation, discussions were held and guidance sought from Victoria Police and other relevant third parties.
“An independent and accredited investigator was also externally engaged to assess and make any recommendation(s) in relation to further action by the Southern FNL, based on their review of the available evidence.
“Following consideration of the assembled evidence, including witness statements, video evidence and discussions with the above third parties, it was determined there was insufficient evidence to corroborate the bringing of a charge(s) against any individual(s) in relation to the incident, by the League under the By-laws.”
Originally published as Footballer Jojo Ofosu-Amaah slams SFNL for sweeping investigation ‘under the rug’
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