Ghanaian footballer John Paintsil for the past 12 years has been in the news for wrong reasons.
Below are the top 4 scandals that have rocked the former West Ham and Black Stars defender.
1. Israel flag-waving
The Ghanaian nearly faced the wrath of FIFA during the 2006 World Cup in Germany after waving an Isreali flag.
In Ghana’s game against the Czech Republic which the West African side won 2-0. Painstil celebrated both goals by pulling an Israeli flag out of his sock and waving it at the cameras.
The flag-waving raised some eyebrows, not least in the Arab and Muslim world. But the then Communications Director of the Ghana Football Association Randy Abbey apologized on Painstil’s behalf.
2. Marital issues
In 2013, Painstil dominated the headlines both local and international after he was arrested for allegedly stabbing his wife in the upper eyelid.
3. Assaulted Police Commander
In 2016, the former Ghanaian defender was arrested by the police for allegedly slapping the East Legon District Police Commander, DSP Emmanuel Basintale. The footballer was accused of slapping the commander in the right eye.
Read also: 7 Hearts of Oak fans arraigned before court after Baba Yara Stadium riot
4. Sued over $20,000 debt
On September 10, 2018, ex-Ghana midfielder Derek Boateng sued John Paintsil to refund his US$ 20,000 he borrowed in camp during the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals in South Africa.
