5 most controversial moments of Sulley Muntari

Like him or loathe him, Muntari’s talent cannot be disputed and he stands as one of the biggest exports Ghana can ever boast of.

Having won multiple league titles, as well as the Uefa Champions League, the 31-year-old has cemented his status as one of Africa’s most decorated players.

However, Muntari cannot be separated from controversy. The Pescara midfielder has been involved in a series of incidents that can just not be taken out of the spotlight.

His maverick character has earned him ‘bad boy’ tag, however, those who know him say he is the perfect gentleman.

In a recent interview with Starr FM, Muntari’s wife, Menaye described the 32-year-old as the “sweetest father” one could ever get to know.

Undoubtedly, though, his controversial moments far outweigh anything else. And we love him for who he is!

Pulse Sports brings you a compilation of five of the most controversial moments of Sulley Muntari.

Smashing an Italian Journalist’s tablet

Muntari nearly hit an Italian journalist in 2014, after an intended prank went all wrong. Stefano Corti, the host of a television show which is known for altering videos in order to prank people, had his tablet smashed by the Ghana midfielder after angering him.

The journalist showed Muntari an altered video of himself engaging in homosexual acts with his team-mates.

However, Muntari did not the see the funny side of the video, and launched a tirade at the journalist before smashing his tablet on the floor.

As a devout Muslim, the then AC Milan midfielder took exception to being tagged as a gay – irrespectively of it being a joke – and went on to warn that “the next time you make a thing like this I’ll break your face.”

Slapping Moses Parker

Anybody who angers Muntari is sure to draw his ire, however, not even Moses Armah Parker – an FA official – would have expected what the midfielder did.

The Pescara anchorman, then on international duty with Ghana at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, became the object of scrutiny after assaulting the Executive Committee member.

Following a row between Black Stars players and the Ghana Football Association over delayed bonuses, the midfielder took matters into his hands and physically confronted Moses Parker. In a heated argument, Muntari is reported to have slapped Parker twice, before later heading to the FA official’s room to smash his laptops.

The incident led to Muntari being sent home from the Black Stars camp, and subsequently handed an indefinite suspension from the national team.

Walking off the pitch amid racism storm

Perhaps the bravest move by any footballer, Muntari made the headlines after walking off the pitch in a Serie A game involving his Pescara side and Cagliari.

The midfielder claimed to have heard racist chants from a section of the home fans, and complained to the referee with the hope that an action will be taken.

Muntari then confronted the away fans, continuously hitting his hand against his skin to show them how he cherished his black body.

However, the referee rather yellow-carded the Ghanaian in controversial circumstances. The decision led to Muntari walking out of the pitch in protestation.

And although it was a controversial moment, the 32-year-old made the desired impact as FIFPro took the matter up.

Strangling a USA player in a World Cup game

Muntari’s plethora of controversial moments will not be complete without his strangling of the USA’s Jermain Jones. With Ghana down by a goal to nil in the opening group G game of the 2014 World Cup, the midfielder, clearly frustrated by the scoreline, decided to pour it all out on Jones.

The USA enforcer challenged Muntari to the ball, but unfortunately ended up taking the Ghanaian down as well. The tackle did not sit well with the Pescara man, who held his opponent by the neck in a rather dangerous position.

It took the intervention of the match referee to stop Muntari from strangling Jones.

Chasing a referee around to stop him from issuing a yellow card

Perhaps the most bizarre moment of Muntari’s career, the midfielder got himself unnecessarily sent off after chasing a referee around the pitch.

Then playing for AC Milan, team-mate Balotelli had caught a Roma player very late and was primed to get a yellow card. However, Muntari, inexplicably held the referee firm, preventing him from issuing the card.

All attempts by the referee to free himself proved futile, as Muntari refused to allow him take out the card. The situation was so bad – albeit hilarious – that Muntari ended up virtually chasing the ref around the pitch.

Fed up with the harassment from the midfielder, the referee had no choice than to send the Ghanaian off.

What other controversial moments of Sulley Muntari do you know of? Add them in the comment box below.