Normally it's France's responsibility to go into crisis mode at a World Cup tournament, but in 2014, the baton appears to have been handed over to Ghana.
On Wednesday — a day before Kevin Prince Boateng and Sulley Muntari were sent home in disgrace — Ghana's president John Dramani Mahama had $3 million in cash flown by chartered jet to the Black Stars in Brazil to settle a dispute over appearance fees and bonuses.
This money would normally be paid to players by FIFA at the conclusion of the tournament, but according to the AP, the players simply demanded it earlier.
Incredibly, the chartered jet full of cash was not hijacked by Bane
while in transit to Brazil, and it survived a convoy through the roads
of Brasilia that looked like something from a Michael Mann movie:
The money reached Ghana's
players at their hotel on Wednesday evening, where up to $100,000 was
distributed to each player. According to Globo, some players shoved wads the cash in their pockets, while others "wrapped it up in clothing."
When John Boye
received his $100,000 stack, the Rennes midfielder was pictured kissing
it. Which tells you absolutely everything you need to know about modern
football.
Western readers may wonder why
the players were not paid by bank transfer, but Globo note that cash
payment is very common in Ghana. In fact, some of the players do not
even have bank accounts in the country.
"That’s a difficult question for me. Of course we will keep it in our bags. We just lock them."
Apparently, telling the world
that there is thousands of dollars in a bag in your hotel room while you
are out playing a game against Portugal is a solid idea. Getting that
bag through customs will also be a lot of fun...