Angry fans should ‘riot’ on Facebook

By Michael Oriedo

One thing that stood out during the chaotic match between AFC Leopards (Ingwe) and Gor Mahia (K’Ogalo) two Sundays ago at Nyayo National Stadium was that some fans still live in the ‘stone’ age.

Wags have claimed that Gor fans resorted to violence to save their team, which had suffered several defeats in previous matches because chances were they were headed for another thorough drubbing. This may be true, if the outcome of the match was anything to go by.

The rioters managed to disrupt the match. This consequently led to disorientation of players and when the game was restarted after about 20 minutes, nothing much could be achieved.

Fought

But let’s leave that to football authorities. Gor fans have said they deserved the draw because they fought for it.

But why should sports fans stone motorists, tear clothes off their rivals’ backs, commandeer vehicles and disrupt traffic in this era when computers, mobile phones and social media have revolutionised protests?

Why stone the referee when you can punch away your frustrations about a player, coach or referee on Facebook and Twitter and get away with it?

Sports enthusiasts — no, call a spade a spade — some Gor fans should know that if they are disgruntled with the referee or their coach, they can ‘riot’ on Facebook and Twitter and leave other Kenyans in peace.

Fanatics

AFC Leopards Fanzone (@ingweleopards), Gor Mahia FC (@Gor Mahia FC) on Twitter and Gor Mahia FC fans and AFC Ingwe Die Hard Fanatics on Facebook, I believe, were created for fans to ventilate their thoughts on various issues affecting their clubs and football.

The sites provide dissatisfied fans with unlimited space where they can ‘stone’ each other and ‘exchange blows’ as long as their fights are within the limits allowed by Mzalendo Kibunjia’s National Cohesion and Integration Commission.

Looking at the sites, a few Gor and AFC fans have taken the cue, which is commendable and must be encouraged if we are to avoid a recurrence of riots in sports arenas.

Kicks

"My take is that the referee lost control of the match. Kicks started flying earlier and he should have stamped his authority by giving yellow cards. While Ali Abondo’s tackle was dangerous and warranted a red card, had the referee taken control of the game earlier, this might not have happened.

"Nonetheless Gor Mahia as a club must learn how to deal with its unruly fans. Time to act is now," commented an AFC fan.

"That game was stopped for just 14 minutes. Why the exaggeration? And when it resumed they took the time to 66th minute. The referee was well within the Fifa rules. AFC fans should blame their players for failing to break a ten-man Gor and stop crying like babies. For the record though, hooliganism is inherent in fans of both teams and this should be stopped," noted a Gor FC.

Grievances

But these are not the only available options for fans. If they have grievances, their clubs can petition Football Kenya Federation (FKF) through laid down channels so that it can act on errant referees.

Besides that, FKF follows matches keenly and it has guidelines on how to address referees’ or players’ transgressions.

This was evident a day after the chaotic match when it suspended two Kenya Premier League officials whom it accused of contributing to violence and security mismanagement.

So, why do fans still riot and expect that football standards will rise, more people will throng stadiums with their families and clubs will get nationwide support and sponsorship?

Football is an entertainment game. Let us spread the fun, not the farce.