Posted On Sunday, 19th May 2013
Security is a key concern going into the last four matches
Security at the various league centres is expected to be reinforced ahead of Sunday’s Glo Premier League matches and the three other games that will follow.
This is to ensure the safety of spectators and the protection of property at the various league venues.
The Premier League Board (PLB) made this known in a statement signed by the Deputy General Secretary of the Ghana Football Assocaition, K. Ampem-Darko.
While expressing “grave concern” over the “brazen acts of violence and hooliganism at some league centres” in the last two weeks, the league body stated its determination to deal ruthlessly with the incidents of violence.
“The PLB condemns the barbaric acts witnessed during some of the recent matches and would like to advise the clubs to restrain their supporters forthwith from visiting brutality on their opponents” said the league organizers.
The PLB further advised club administrators and their supporters to treat visiting clubs fairly warning that “stern punishment awaits all wrongdoers in accordance with regulations governing the game and its participation”.
On May 8, 2013, the Kotoko-Medeama midweek game at the Baba Yara Sports travelled smoothly in regulation time but some spectators after proceedings ended threw plastic bottles on to the pitch in protest of perceived bias officiating.
Other fans outside the stadium also pelted the Medeama team bus with stones destroying windows of the bus in the process.
Four days later, Kotoko players and officials also came under a more dangerous assault when angry fans of Berekum Arsenal attacked the team bus and vandalized it, injuring Rashid Sumaila and other occupants in the bus.
The rioting by the Berekum Arsenal fans started shortly after Porcupine Warriors hammered their team 3-0 at the Golden City Park.
Away at the Dormaa Ahenkro on the same day, play was halted for some minutes in the Aduana Stars-Liberty Professional match because of crowd misbehavior.
By: Jerome Otchere