Leopards face disciplinary action for hooliganism

AFC Leopards run the risk of being expelled from the GOtv Shield tournament after the club’s fans engaged in acts of hooliganism during Monday’s semi-final match against Sofapaka at City Stadium.

In a statement on Tuesday, the football governing body said that it would not condone acts of hooliganism in the game, insisting that the club will be fined for Sunday’s violence that saw their GOtv semi-final match called off in the 85th minute owing to violence.

“The football administration as the rest of the football family in the world does not condone acts of hooliganism that gives the game a bad name and will take stern disciplinary action against AFC Leopards.

“We are considering far-reaching sanctions, including banning fans from attending matches and financial sanctions and/or fines as well as total exclusion of Leopards from the competition next year,” read the terse statement.

COST OF DAMAGES

The football managing body also said that in addition to the fine, Leopards will bear the cost of loss of property and destruction of personal vehicles during the match.

Ingwe will also be required to foot the medical bills of those who incurred injuries in the fracas.

Leopard’s utility defender James Situma was among those who were left counting losses after goons smashed his car’s windscreen. “My car was badly damaged with the people I thought I trusted, but what broke my heart most was not losing the game but watching a seven-year-old girl cry inside our team bus. She could not even trust her own mother who made pleas for her to come out,” Situma wrote on his facebook page.

Match referee Davies Omweno also suffered injuries after being assaulted by the marauding goons, while Daily Nation’s photographer Chris Omollo and reporter Celestine Olilo were also roughed up. Omollo sought medical attention at the Agha Khan Hospital.

However in a quick rejoinder, Leopards secretary-general laid the blame on match referee whom he accused of being partisan in the match.

“On behalf of AFC Leopards SC, we blame the referee Davies Omweno and his two assistants for the chaos which erupted before the end of our match GOTV semifinal match versus Sofapaka.

“He (Omweno) denied Leopards a clear penalty and went ahead to award Sofapaka a dubious free kick,” he said.