Kevin-Prince Boateng has broken his silence on the events that led to his shock exclusion from the Ghana national team during the 2014 FIFA World Cup, accusing team officials of prioritising politics and money over the unity of the squad.
A decade after the dramatic fallout in Brazil, Boateng has offered his version of the controversial episode that ended his international career with the Black Stars.
Speaking on the Vibe with Five podcast, the former Schalke 04 midfielder revealed he was punished for challenging the Ghana Football Association on matters of player welfare and team organisation.
“I was kicked out of the national team and Schalke in the same season because I spoke to the president about payments and organization,” Boateng explained. He recounted a meeting held with federation leaders in which he voiced concerns over the treatment of players. “We had a meeting and I criticized them, arguing that they couldn’t treat us like that,” he said.
The aftermath, Boateng claims, was swift and cold.
“The next morning, at 6 a.m., they left a letter under my door before the Portugal match and expelled me,” he revealed. The news of his dismissal wasn’t even delivered directly by team officials. “A German journalist called to tell me I’d been sent off,” he added. “I was forced to leave the hotel within 15 minutes.”
Boateng’s account sheds light on the internal dysfunction and tension that surrounded Ghana’s World Cup campaign in Brazil.
While the Black Stars were preparing to face Portugal in their final group match, the midfielder was already packing his bags, his international career effectively over.
The 2014 tournament had been riddled with off-field turmoil for the Ghanaian team, including well-publicised disputes over unpaid bonuses.
Boateng was not the only player caught in the storm—Sulley Muntari was also suspended after a separate altercation involving team management.
Boateng’s remarks add weight to long-standing speculation that the team’s poor showing in Brazil was rooted in mismanagement behind the scenes rather than on-pitch shortcomings.
His testimony paints a picture of a fractured camp, plagued by mistrust and administrative chaos.
Although the former AC Milan and Portsmouth star has not played for the national side since the 2014 World Cup, his revelations serve as a stark reminder of the damaging internal dynamics that can derail even the most promising footballing sides.
