COST OF RIOTS: AFC Leopards to play in empty stadia, fined Sh500,000 and will meet cost of medication for injured fans and match officials, orders FK

AFC Leopards fans run for safety as a child is rescued after the fans engaged police in a running battle against Sofapaka during their GOtv Shield Semi final at City Stadium, Nairobi on Monday 20/10/14.PHOTO.BONIFACE OKENDO

AFC Leopards will play their remaining matches this season behind closed doors as Football Kenya Federation (FKF) moved in to crack the whip over the violence that erupted on Monday during their GOtv Shield match against Sofapaka at City Stadium.

In a statement released last evening, FKF said AFC Leopards will compensate their opponents for the loss of revenue in case they are playing away.

“The club has also been fined Sh500,000 payable within seven days as well as be required to pay for the medical expenses incurred by the injured match officials and fans. The club must also identify the scouts who assaulted the match officials,” said a statement from the FKF executive committee.

Other sanctions include Leopards forfeiting their place in the play-offs of the GOtv Shield and any other benefits they would have been entitled to.

“The federation strongly condemns the acts of hooliganism, violence and destructive behaviour by a section of their misguided fans and this will not be tolerated henceforth. Clubs must endeavour to respect the decisions of the match referees at all times,” added the statement.

The federation also blamed security men for a slow response in containing the violence and for excessive use of force to curb the violence when it started.

But the club blamed centre referee Davies Omweno for the aborted match.

The club’s Secretary General George Aladwa claimed Omweno had incited the fans with poor decisions.

“From the start, the match went on well. Sofapaka were clearly better than us, but the referee messed up with some questionable decisions. The first goal by Sofapaka was genuine, but we are not sure about the second,” he said.

Aladwa claimed the free kick which resulted in the second goal should not have been allowed in the first place and believes allowing it is what caused trouble.

“Before that, we had been denied a penalty and then Enock Agwanda, in a clear case of pretence, went down without being tackled. That free kick and the goal should not have counted.”

Aladwa refused to condemn the fans for their action, insisting they were incited by the referee.

“The fans reacted out of anger. Referees should be careful when handling such volatile matches and avoid doing anything that may incite fans.”

Sofapaka also condemned the action by AFC fans which left property worth thousands of shillings destroyed and many people injured.

Sofapaka chairman Elly Kalekwa said the action by AFC Leopards fans ought to be heavily punished to act as a deterrent.

“We are struggling to get sponsors in this league and such actions don’t help. We are disappointed that FKF is lenient when such incidents happen yet it is the brand that is being affected.

“Serious action needs to be taken, otherwise we will discourage potential sponsors from coming on board,” said Kalekwa.

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