Charles Nyende
19 June 2011
Nairobi — In one of the most bizarre football decisions, the Kenyan Premier League’s Independent Disciplinary and Complaints Committee at the weekend found no reason to punish the guilty club for crowd trouble.
The match in question was the KPL Top Eight Knock-out semi-final, second leg between Gor Mahia and Ulinzi Stars at the Nyayo National Stadium that was abandoned midway through the second half after Gor Mahia fans threw missiles onto the field of play.
The fans, who were protesting a disallowed goal, vented their anger with wanton destruction of the stadium property and Ulinzi’s team bus.
Sports Stadia Management Board have estimated damages to the Nyayo National Stadium at Sh640,000, while Ulinzi Stars have put their loss at Sh1.8 million.
But while finding Gor Mahia guilty of causing the abandonment, the meek IDCC could only order that the club forfeit the match – they were down 1-0 at the time of the stoppage – on a 2-0 basis.
The committee also conditionally ruled that Gor Mahia was liable to pay for the damages caused by their fans on the day.
In their official decision released on Friday evening IDCC said:
“However, in order to ensure hearing on the subject of quantum of damages, we direct that Gor Mahia FC be provided with evidence of the claims of damage to property suffered by the said claimants (SSMB, Ulinzi Stars) by June 17 for purposes of verification.
“We further direct that Gor Mahia FC shall have the opportunity to address this committee on the said claims from damages before the committee delivers a final verdict on the issue of quantum of damages.”
At no stage in the nine-page ruling does IDCC reprimand Gor Mahia for the hooligan acts of their fans nor give the standard hefty fine and playing behind closed-door punishment.
This ruling sets a bad precedence in a league that espouses zero tolerance on violence.
KPL, through the Independent Disciplinary and Appeals Committee (IDAC), that was disbanded at the end of last season, firmly dealt with violence in the stadium by ordering any club guilty of the act of playing their home matches in an empty stadium in addition to huge fines.
And that is the practice the world over in efforts to rid the game of hooliganism.
Last month, the Confederations of African Football ordered Club Africain to play their next two home matches in continental competition without spectators as punishment for crowd trouble.
Behind closed doors
Club Africain fans attempted to attack the referee during their Champions League tie with Sudan causing an abandonment with four minutes left. The club was also fined $40,000 (about Sh3.4 million).
Caf in April ordered Zamalek to play their next two African club competition matches behind closed doors after a crowd invasion in a Champions League match. They were fined $80,000 (Sh6.8 million).
In April, the German Football Federation (DFB) ordered St Pauli to play their next Bundesliga home game behind closed doors as punishment for a missile thrown by their fan at an assistant referee.
In Greece’s top league last January, PAOK Salonika were ordered to play a match behind closed doors and fined €90,000 (Sh10.9 million) after crowd violence during a game with Olympiakos Volos.
As IDCC inexplicably plays soft ball on violence others are taking firm stands.
SuperSport, the official broadcast sponsors of KPL, have decided not to televise any match involving Gor Mahia until further notice.
SuperSport’s head of Africa, Gary Rathbone, said the decision was done to protect the company’s personnel and property and also to guard against airing violent scenes.
To date Gor Mahia have not officially apologised for the violent conduct of their fans.
AllAfrica – All the Time