Two hundred Ghanaian World Cup fans in Brazil are asking for asylum, a move that has drawn scepticism and ridicule.

Ghana supporters at the FIFA World Cup 2014 group G preliminary round match between Portugal and Ghana at the Estadio Nacional in Brasilia, Brazil, 26 June 2014. (EPA/SHAWN THEW)

The asylum-seekers argue they are fleeing from “violent conflicts between different Muslim groups” in Ghana. These fans entered Brazil on tourist visas and their requests are being prepared by the Roman Catholic Church’s Migrant Support Center.

The Ghanaian government denied (link is external) the claims and said they would investigate the matter:

gbcghana.com
Government states for the record that the basis for this alleged request is completely false as no religious conflict is taking place in Ghana. It is also worthy to note that Ghana is one of the most stable and peaceful countries not just in the West African sub -region but also on the African continent. Ghana’s mission in Brazil has been instructed to liaise with the Brazilian authorities to investigate the matter.