Ghana Premier League side Hearts of Oak have dismissed reports linking goalkeeper Benjamin Asare to alleged theft during his time with the Black Stars, describing the claims as baseless and damaging.
The controversy surfaced on Friday when online reports alleged that two Rolex watches and an amount of $2,250 belonging to a team official were stolen from the Black Stars camp in Vienna ahead of their friendly against Austria. The club has, however, strongly refuted any involvement of its player.
In a statement released on March 28, Hearts of Oak branded the allegations as entirely false, misleading, and defamatory, insisting that the story originated from an unnamed online platform and lacked credibility.
The club further revealed that it had engaged the Ghana Football Association (GFA) over the matter, with both parties aligning in rejecting the claims.
The club has engaged directly with the Ghana Football Association, and both parties confirm that there is absolutely no truth to these claims, the statement noted.
Hearts of Oak also confirmed that they have reported the individuals behind the publication to law enforcement authorities and relevant regulatory bodies, with the expectation that investigations will lead to appropriate sanctions.
Meanwhile, the club sought to reassure supporters about Asares condition, stressing that the goalkeeper remains unaffected by the allegations and fully focused on his duties.
He is in excellent condition, fully focused, and not in any way affected by these baseless claims, the statement added.
The club concluded by urging the public to disregard the reports and called for calm, while reiterating its commitment to safeguarding the integrity and reputation of its players.
The Black Stars, for their part, have since arrived in Stuttgart for a friendly against Germany scheduled for Monday, March 30, as they look to recover from a heavy 5-1 defeat to Austria.
