Once a preserve of European teams, especially in England and Italy where football hooliganism was a serious problem, the unfortunate trend has found its way into our country as evidenced by the increasing number of incidents of unruly behaviour among soccer fans.
Early this month, a match between Sofapaka football club and AFC Leopards turned chaotic after the latter's fans invaded the pitch, forcing cancellation of the match when AFC was two goals down.
The damage and injuries that confrontation caused was colossal; calling for disciplinary action against the team whose fans started the melee.
The Independent Disciplinary and Complaints Committee found AFC Leopards fraternity guilty and ordered the team to pay for damages as well as play without fans in their remaining matches.
On Sunday last week when Sofapaka was playing Gor Mahia at the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos, Gor fans invaded the pitch and thereby curtailed the match and burnt business premises and cars. The club is due for disciplinary action as well.
These criminal tendencies and behaviour are clearly undesirable and must be dealt with firmly. So far, the fines imposed are very light and can hardly act as a deterrent.
Addressing the cause of violence during matches is the first step towards restoring sanity and to a large extent, a following to a sport that is meant to entertain, not cause pain and destruction.
Some of the causes are alcohol, drugs, juvenile delinquency by fans, police incompetence at the stadium and poor officiating.
There have been cases where referees have been bribed to give favourable decisions to a team. At times, indiscriminate use of force and tear gas by the police has been known to escalate the skirmishes. Yet there are those whose knack for loutish behaviour is legendary.
It is time to throw the book at them. One quick way is to hunt down and isolate the bad guys from the good guys.
Loss of revenue on account of playing in empty stadiums and bearing the full cost of damages have failed to compel teams to discipline their fans.
Known hooligans must be banned from attending all matches. Above all, fans must accept that losing, and graciously so, is part of the game.
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