In an effort aimed at enforcing laws of the game and promoting fair play, Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has suspended Shabana F.C’s Samuel Otieno for unsporting behavior.
Otieno has been suspended for 365 days for head butting the first assistant in a National Super League (NSL) fixture against Modern Coast played on June 19, 2016 at the Mombasa Sports Club.
“We are in receipt of the center referee’s and match Commissioner’s report for match number 41 Modern Coast versus Shabana F.C,” said FKF CEO Robert Muthomi.
“In the report, the referee stated that during the 83 minute Shabana FC player Samuel Otieno License number 1257 head butted the first assistant referee and was sent off for violent conduct.
“As such we have written to the club informing them that Otieno has been suspended for a year for his actions and is barred from participating in any FKF affiliated club or competition,” explained the CEO.
Otieno becomes the second player in the Kenyan second tier league to face the full force of the law for assault on a match official, after KCB’s George Opiyo early June.
Opiyo has since been appointed by the FA to help sensitize players against such behaviours.
The suspension is in accordance with FKF’s rule 7.7 that deals with Assaults on match Officials.
7.7 Assaults on Officials (a) Common Assault: If the case is substantiated to the satisfaction of the committee, 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) or face other disciplinary action. (a) Competent Authorities: Any misconduct by members registered in a national league or competition must be dealt with by the National Leagues and Competitions Committee.
Any misconduct by members registered in a Branch league or competition must be dealt with by the Branch Leagues and Competitions Committee. (b) Decisions by Match Officials: The decisions made by the referee or assistant referees on the Laws of the Game during a match are final. Clubs and players may submit a protest but cannot appeal those decisions.
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