DERBY COCK UP: Gor Mahia versus AFC Leopards clash ends up in chaos

Injured football fans receives treatment following fans trouble that marred the Kenyan Premier League encounter between Gor Mahia vs AFC Leopards at Nyayo Stadium on August 23, 2015. [Photo: DENNIS OKEYO/STANDARD]

Ugly acts of hooliganism resurfaced, leaving scores of fans injured as the 'Mashemeji Derby' pitting defending Kenyan Premier League champions Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards aborted midway through the second half, at the Nyayo Stadium on Sunday.

"The match has been called off because of crowd trouble. AFC Leopards player clearly handled the ball in the box, but their fans didn't allow the opposing player to take it," GMT Otieno, KPL head of Technical Services, Safety and Security, told Feverpitch.

"After waiting for the stipulated time, it was not possible for the referee to continue the match in such situation. We are waiting for the referee's report before forwarding it to the league organisers who will then decide the next course of action."

They came in large numbers, donning their team colours and painted the stadium and its environs, blue and green during one of Kenyan football showstopper.

The sun-soaked afternoon made for a carnival atmosphere at the second derby of the season.

As ever, both AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia were well supported with some fans chanting and cheering until their voices grew hoarse.

As the two teams engaged in a grueling battle on the pitch, chants, dances and the sounds of vuvuzela stoked the embers of the derby.

But with less than 25 minutes remaining, all hell broke loose.

Tear-gas smoke engulf an emergency ambulance as fans of Gor Mahia FC and those of AFC Leopards clash with police at the Nyayo National stadium on August 23, 2015. .About ten people sustained serious injuries in this ugly face of football hooliganism that brought traffic to a standstill as chaos spread outside the stadium.

A section of Leopards' fans started throwing stones and water bottles on the pitch, protesting a penalty after their captain Jackson Saleh handled the ball in the box. This prompted the police to fire teargas canisters at the rowdy fans.

And as the security officials and stewards tried to calm down the situation, the war shifted to the rival stewards who exchanged blows, prolonging the penalty take. While on the other hand, the police continued engaging the rowdy fans in running battles.

But after waiting for over 20 minutes as the security officials unsuccessfully tried to restore some semblance of normalcy, centre referee Raphael Nduati called off the match.

Fans trouble marred the Kenyan Premier League encounter between Gor Mahia vs AFC Leopards at Nyayo Stadium on August 23, 2015. The Match was called off midway. [Photo: DENNIS OKEYO/STANDARD]

This was the third incident of hooliganism witnessed during the match. What had looked like an enthralling encounter was temporarily stopped on the stroke of halftime after a section of unruly Ingwe fans hurled missiles on the pitch following referee Nduati's decision not to award Ingwe a free kick after a foul on Lammine Diallo.

And as the players went to the locker during the break, war between the two set of fans broke out at Gate B. The outnumbered police officers swung into action lobbing teargas to disperse the fighting fans as the stewards cleared the pitch.

Leopards Organising Secretary and legend Peter Lichungu vehemently condemned the incidents and blamed his supporters for the chaos.

"It is very unfortunate. These group of fans don't know and understand what this club is going through. It was a clear handball, they should have allowed the match to continue because anything could have happened as we still had more than 20 minutes to play," said Lichungu.

"We were in a process of finalising a sponsorship deal with a certain company, but with such incidents which sponsor can come on board? For the sake of this team, our fans need to style up."

Gor Mahia vice chairman John Pesa Vice couldn't hide his disappointment, urging the league organisers to take a stern action against the unruly fans.

"This is primitive. If Gor Mahia fans behaved the way AFC fans did we would have lost many lives today. Nobody disputed the penalty, from the players to the officials. We were here to enjoy ourselves but hooligans spoiled our fun day. These are the right candidates to be banned from the stadium. With these characters both of us cannot get sponsorship. As an example, ban fans from coming to the pitch," Pesa told Feverpitch. [email protected]