Football Kenya Federation President Nick Mwendwa has spelled out tough new rules that will be used to curb hooliganism in the Kenyan stadiums with immediate effect.See below his statement on the same
In recent years the ugly spectre of hooliganism has threatened to blight our football and erode the gains that the game has made. Football is an important source of livelihood for our players, match officials and a favorite past time for the nation.
It is therefore our responsibility as the governing body of football in Kenya to lead the efforts to curb this menace and make our stadiums safe for both players, match officials, the press and stop the senseless destruction of property that happens every time there is chaos in the stadium.
This season we have already witnessed crowd trouble and violence against match officials in two matches in the SportPesa Premier League. On the 16th of April 2016 the match pitting Tusker FC against Gor Mahia at Nyayo Stadium was nearly disrupted after the referee awarded Tusker a penalty.
Gor Mahia goalkeeper Boniface Oluoch incited the fans by pushing one of the assistant referees. The fans reacted by throwing stones at the match officials. Afterwards, a fan attacked the referee in the full glare of the media.
On April 24, 2016, a match between AFC Leopards and Ulinzi Stars was abandoned in the 80th minute following crowd trouble. This happened after AFC Leopards fans refused for a penalty to be taken by Ulinzi Stars. During that incident match officials were also attacked by fans. In view of the foregoing, FKF has come up with the following measures to curb hooliganism;
• An independent Committee involving key stakeholders will be formed to handle all matches involving Gor Mahia FC and AFC Leopards SC. That these two clubs will no longer appoint security stewards for their matches
• That a player or team official who by their actions is deemed to cause or aggravate crowd trouble or incite fans, players or team officials to actions that could lead to crowd trouble, match disruption or abandonment will be banned for four matches and incur a fine of Kshs 20,000 for the first offence.
A repeat offender will be banned for three hundred and sixty five days (365).
• Any player or team official who attacks or attempts to attack a match official will be suspended for three hundred and sixty five days (365 days). The team that the player plays for will be liable for any and all damages caused to the match official(s).
• That the club whose players or fans are liable for causing the abandonment of a match will;
a) Lose the match on a 2-0, three point basis.
b) Be deducted six points
c) Will play its next home match in an empty stadium. In the event that the team repeats the offence it will be deducted six points and play its next consecutive three matches in an empty stadium. If the team commits the offence for a third time it will be relegated to a lower league and will be fined Five hundred thousand shillings (Kshs 500,000)
• That a spectator who causes a fight or incites crowd violence will be banned from attending all football matches in the country. It will be the responsibility of the team that he/she supports to ensure that the spectator is denied entry. If a club is found guilty of not enforcing this rule the Federation will take appropriate action against the club. This action could be a fine, playing home matches in empty stadiums or deduction of points.
• If a supporter of a particular team invades the field of play with an intention to cause violence on players or match officials, the club that he supports will be fined Kshs 100,000 and play three of its consecutive home matches in an empty stadium.
• These rules will be form the basis of far reaching regulations aimed at tackling the escalating vice of hooliganism and violence in our football. The rules will come into force immediately.
• It was noted that the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) has already instituted judicial proceedings against Gor Mahia FC and AFC Leopards SC in relation to recent cases of crowd violence and match abandonment. It was agreed that the KPL will furnish FKF with the findings and action taken by Tuesday 3rd May 2016.
Finally, I would like to thank our partners SportPesa, Super Sport and the KPL which is the company running our top tier league for their support of these regulations.
