GOR AND AFC TO FACE CHARGES: Both clubs accused of failing to control their fans and players

George Mwangi the second Assistant Referee found himself under the rock as this Gor Mahia fan cornered him after the match for a disputed penalty kick which was awarded in favour of Tusker. Tusker beat Gor 1-0.PHOTO;BONIFACE OKENDO

Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards have been summoned to appear before the Independent Disciplinary and Appeals Committee (IDAC) over hooliganism.

At the same time, Football Kenya Federation (FKF) will today set out far reaching measures it believes will tackle the vice.

Feverpitch understands the federation suggested during their executive meeting on Monday that clubs whose fans cause abandonment of matches be docked points.

The Sportpesa Kenyan Premier League (KPL) announced that both Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards have been invited to answer to several charges following fan trouble in their matches.

While at the disciplinary committee, Gor Mahia will answer to charges of fans throwing stones, bottles and other objects at assistant referee George Mwangi who awarded Tusker a penalty during the match.

Gor Mahia goalkeeper Boniface Oluoch will also be required to answer to charges of confronting Mwangi after he pushed the assistant referee twice while protesting the awarded penalty.

Another charge that has been levelled against the club is failure to control their fans who entered the field of play and assaulted the assistant referee while their stewards watched.

AFC Leopards on the other hand will answer to charges of their fans causing the abandonment of their KPL match against Ulinzi Stars last Saturday in Mumias.

The fans also attacked match officials, stealing from them and harming them in the process.

The match between Leopards and Ulinzi was abandoned while the scores were tied 1-1 and the soldiers had been awarded a penalty. According to KPL rules, Ulinzi Stars will be awarded the match.

SPORTPESA CONCERNED

The league’s title sponsors, Sportpesa, added their voice to the matter by accusing KPL of not doing enough to end the vice.

Sportpesa Chief Executive Officer Ronald Karauri called for tough measures to end the problem.

Karauri said: “We believe that tough measures like docking of points should be taken so as to end the vice. As sponsors we are getting concerned that KPL is probably is not doing enough to deal with this problem,” he said.

Karauri said the company is doing their best to help KPL deal with the problem but insists the company must do its duty. “We have recently employed a security officer who will advise KPL on how best to curb the vice. In the meantime however, they must also do their bit so that together we are able to curb the vice,” he added.