Caf slaps Gor Mahia, Lobi Stars with fines
What you need to know:
- Defenders Harun Shakava and partner Joash Onyango were accused of misconduct during their Caf Champions League first round second leg game away to Lobi Stars
- The five-bench board established unsporting behaviours from the duo thus fining the club
- Payment must be made in American Dollars within 60 days from the date of the ruling
- The club can appeal the decision at Caf Appeal Board within three days of notification of this decision
Gor Mahia and Lobi Stars of Nigeria have been fined Sh1 million and Sh1.5million by the Confederation of African Football (Caf) due to unsporting behaviour by their players during their Caf Champions League first round second leg match,
Gor defenders Harun Shakava and partner Joash Onyango were accused of misconduct during their Caf Champions League first round second leg game away on December 22.
According to the match officials' report, Onyango used abusive language towards the referees while Shakava kicked the goalkeeper of Lobi Stars John Lawrence.
Caf immediately moved to suspend the two from Sunday’s 2-1 win over New Stars de Douala of Cameroon in the Confederation Cup playoff first round clash at Kasarani stadium pending the case at the disciplinary board that was heard on Sunday in Cairo, Egypt.
In the hearing chaired by South African Raymond Hack, his vice Osman Yassin from Djibouti and three other members, the five-bench board established unsporting behaviours from the duo thus fining the club.
“The Caf Disciplinary board has decided to impose upon your club a fine of $10,000 ($5,000 each for the unsporting behaviour of players), read the ruling seen by Nation Sport dated January 14 and signed by the board chairman Hack.
“The players are also suspended for next two matches namely match no. 79 Gor Mahia FC vs New Stars de Douala and match no. 80 New Stars de Douala vs Gor Mahia FC,” the letter addressed to the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Secretary General Robert Muthomi continued.
Lobi goalkeeper John Lawrence got into fight with the Gor Mahia duo of Harun Shakava and Joash Onyango during the pitch invasion by the home supporters.
The report further stated that the master of ceremony incited the local team’s fans to push the visiting team.
It’s during the scuffle that the two Gor defenders were involved in an unsporting behaviour that led to their two match suspension and a fine of Sh1 million imposed on Gor.
The disciplinary board chaired by South African Raymond Hack found the hosts guilty of unsporting behaviours
“The board decided to impose upon the club Lobi Stars a fine of USD 15000 (Sh500,000 for the unsporting behaviour of the goalkeeper, a further Sh500,000 for the pitch invasion and Sh500,000 for the unsporting behavior of your Master of the Ceremony,” read the decisions.
Payment must be made in American Dollars within 60 days from the date of the ruling.
The club can appeal the decision at Caf Appeal Board within three days of notification of this decision.
However, reasons for the appeal must be given in writing accompanied with a deposit of Sh200,000 paid in Caf’s account.
The two players will thus miss the trip to Limbe for the return leg slated for Sunday.
Gor coach Hassan Oktay will likely retain the defensive partnership of Charles Momanyi and Joachim Oluoch that started in the first leg on Sunday.
This is the second time in less than six months the club is being fined by Caf for unsporting behaviour.
They were slapped with a Sh500,000 fine September last year for crowd trouble during their 2-1 defeat to Rwandan side Rayon Sports in the Caf Confederation Cup group stage match at Kasarani stadium in August.
