Champions League: 106 football fans fined Sh10,000 by Kitale court in Kenya

Football - Champions League - Semi-Final First Leg - Real Madrid v Chelsea - Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano, Madrid, Spain - April 27, 2021. Real Madrid's Eden Hazard with Chelsea's Ben Chilwell after the match. [REUTERS/Sergio Perez]

A Kitale court in Kenya on Wednesday fined 106 football fans Sh10,000 each or serve a two-month jail term for flouting the COVID-19 protocols.

The fans were arrested on Tuesday night while watching a UEFA Champions League clash between heavyweights Chelsea and Real Madrid.

Kitale Senior Resident Magistrate Maureen Kesse fined the suspects for contravening COVID-19 containment measures.

The Magistrate directed that the fans pay Sh5,000 for flouting the 10pm-4am curfew and Sh5,000 for not following the social distancing protocols.

Each charge attracts a one-month jail term should the accused persons fail to pay the fine, the magistrate ruled.

The fans had spent a night at the Kitale Police Station open cells.

Some of the 106 soccer fans arrested in Kitale watching a clash between Chelsea and Real Madrid. [Osinde Obare, The Standard]

They have 12 days to appeal the ruling.

Police on patrol nabbed the suspects from several video showrooms at the shanty area while watching the Champions League semi-final first leg match.

The match, which kicked off at 10pm, ended in a 1-1 stalemate.

The second leg of the match will be played next Wednesday at the Stamford Bridge in London.