Thursday 26 June 2014 18:59, UK
Ghana midfielders Sulley Muntari and Kevin-Prince Boateng have been suspended indefinitely from the national team and sent home from the World Cup for disciplinary reasons.
Ghana's two biggest stars were axed just hours before their crucial World Cup Group G match against Portugal on Thursday.
Milan's Muntari and Boateng of Schalke, who both had spells with Portsmouth as well as the latter at Tottenham, have both had their tournament accreditation withdrawn, according to the Ghana FA (GFA).
They will play no part as the Black Stars attempt to beat the Portuguese in Brasilia and qualify for the last 16.
Muntari was reported to have physically attacked GFA official Moses Armah while Boateng verbally insulted coach Kwesi Appiah during a heated team meeting.
The Ghanaian squad had been in a state of rebellion over unpaid appearances, with the country's government believed to have sent out in excess of US$3million (£1.8m) on a chartered plane to Brazil to pay the players in an attempt to appease the situation.
A statement from the association said: "The GFA has suspended Sulley Ali Muntari indefinitely from the Black Stars with immediate effect.
"The decision was taken in the wake of his unprovoked physical attack on an executive committee member of the GFA and a management member of the Black Stars, Mr Moses Armah on Tuesday 24th June, 2014 during a meeting.
"The GFA has approved coach Kwesi Appiah's decision to suspend Kevin-Prince Boateng indefinitely from the Black Stars.
"The decision was taken following Boateng's vulgar verbal insults targeted at coach Kwesi Appiah during the team's training session in Maceio this week.
"Boateng has since showed no remorse for his actions which has resulted in the decision."
