Gor Mahia blames FKF as fans federation condemns Gusii Stadium clashes

Kenya Football Fans Federation Chief Executive Officer Shem Okottah during a press conference over the clashes that left at least one person dead at Gusii Stadium. [Mike Kihaki, Standard] Gor Mahia's Executive Committee has blamed the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) for overriding a match official's decision to postpone their Sunday clash with Shabana FC at Gusii Stadium, a move they say led to chaos. In a statement on Monday, the club accused the FKF of ignoring security warnings and disregarding standard safety procedures, resulting in violent scenes that disrupted the highly anticipated match and put players and supporters at risk. "It is saddening that despite having registered a legitimate concern with the Leagues and Competitions department about playing such a high-risk match at Gusii Stadium, they chose not to intervene," the statement read. "This was despite the OCPD Kisii Sub-County advising that the prevailing environment was volatile and the match should be called off." Gor Mahia further claimed that the Match Commissioner initially assured the team that the game would not proceed due to safety concerns, only to later reverse the decision under instructions from FKF. "We were completely taken aback. The Match Commissioner visited our team bus, which had been locked out of the stadium by the home team, and assured our players and technical bench that the match would not be played given the tense situation," the club said. "However, during an urgent meeting with all stakeholders, he suddenly reversed his position, saying he had received instructions from FKF to proceed at all costs." The match eventually kicked off 42 minutes late, and was marred by crowd trouble throughout, including five interruptions due to missile throwing and pitch invasion. Hospital and police reports later confirmed 72 injuries linked to the chaos. The club also took aim at Shabana FC's failure to meet hosting responsibilities, accusing them of not deploying adequate security measures. "Home team stewards were all over the pitch with batons exposed, and there was a total breakdown in crowd control," the statement said. "Shabana failed to prevent the throwing of bottles and other harmful objects onto the pitch. It was a clear violation of their obligations as hosts." Gor Mahia is demanding accountability from FKF, warning that continued mismanagement threatens the integrity and safety of the Kenyan Premier League. "We call upon the Football Kenya Federation to take the running of the top league seriously. The rules and regulations governing Kenyan football must be adhered to fully so that such unbecoming behavior is stamped out completely." In response, FKF President Hussein Mohammed in a statement condemned the violence, vowing to work with authorities to identify those responsible. "FKF strongly condemns all forms of violence in our stadiums. Football must remain a sport that brings people together-not one that puts lives at risk," he said. "We are working closely with the relevant authorities to establish the circumstances that led to the unrest. Decisive disciplinary measures will be taken." Mohammed regreated on the action adding that: "What happened today at Gusii Stadium is unacceptable. Violence has no place in our game," said Mohammed. "FKF will act decisively. We owe it to our fans, players, and the future of Kenyan football." The Kenya Football Fans Federation (KEFOFA) had earlier on condemned the violent incidents calling upon the relevant authorities to take swift action in strengthening security measures at match venues to ensure the safety of all attendees. "Football is meant to unite, not divide, and such acts of hooliganism have no place in our sport. We urge all fans to uphold sportsmanship, respect fellow supporters, and embrace the spirit of fair play. The passion for football should be a force for positive engagement, not conflict," said Shem Okottah, Chief Executive Officer of the Kenya Football Fans Federation. Additionally, the federation proposed a structured dialogue sessions between rival fan bases to foster understanding and eliminate hostility, fan education programs that emphasize responsible support and the value of football as a unifying factor. As part of the mitigation measures, it also called for collaboration with clubs, FKF, and security officials to develop and implement effective stadium safety policies. The violence broke out before 2pm kickoff, with video footage shared on social mediashowing rival supporters throwing stones and other objects inside the packed stadium. The clash triggered panic among fans, who scrambled for exits as police struggled to restore order. Police eventually quelled the disturbance and helped evacuate injured fans, who were taken to nearby hospitals. Gor Mahia won 1-0 against the hosts.

Gor Mahia blames FKF as fans federation condemns Gusii Stadium clashes

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