Move to award Tusker points is reversed
Tusker's Kenyan defender Dennis Nganga (left) dribbles past Ezekiel Otuoma of Muhoroni Youth during their Tusker Premier League match at Safaricom Kasarani Stadium on October 20 2014. PHOTO | MARTIN MUKANGU |
What you need to know:
- KPL had in a ruling on Thursday awarded the match to Tusker on a technicality
- The tie was later called off 15 minutes later after both teams and the match officials failed to resolve the impasse.
The Kenyan Premier League’s decision to award Tusker victory from Sunday’s abandoned match against Muhoroni Youth has been overruled by the local football federation.
KPL had in a ruling on Thursday awarded the match to Tusker on a technicality “because as recorded in the match officials reports, Muhoroni Youth caused the abandonment by refusing to resume play in contravention of Rule 3.7 on abandoned matches.”
But the federation yesterday responded to this development by stating: “The KPL Secretariat lacks jurisdiction on the matter and should defer the decision to award the match to Tusker FC, and instead refer the matter to judicial bodies.”
The match in question was stopped in the 75th minute after Muhoroni player Abass Akinyemi brought to the attention of match referee Andrew Juma an abnormal occurrence where Tusker were playing with 12 players - one more than the legally required number.
The tie was later called off 15 minutes later after both teams and the match officials failed to resolve the impasse.
This development further highlights a disturbing pattern where football authorities have exhibited either unwillingness or inability to effectively resolve disputes in the game locally.
