AFCON qualifier: CAF slaps ban on FKF CEO, fines Kenya for breaching COVID-19 regulations

CEO FKF Barry Otieno during the unveiling of the reconstituted Electoral Board ahead of the upcoming elections set to be held before March 30 in Nairobi on Monday, Feb 3, 2020. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Confederation of African Football (CAF) has slapped bans on Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Barry Otieno and Harambee Stars Team Manager Ronny Onyando for breaching the COVID-19 regulations put in place during their 2021 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifier away game against Comoros.

According to a statement from CAF website, the duo were handed a six-month ban each from football activities relating to CAF after they allegedly tore apart PCR tests copies of the Kenyan team.

“On the day of the match the General Secretary of the Comoros Football Federation came in early to take their PCR tests, and he was met with refusal from the Kenyan national team’s management, they delayed the process for three hours until they finally gave in,” read the statement.

“The test results arrived just a few minutes before kick-off, during warm-up, due to the said delay. The Commissioner did not get the chance to check the results himself as Barry Otieno, the General Secretary of the Football Kenya Federation, and Ronny Oyando, the Kenyan team manager disputed the results as soon as they have become aware of them and snatched them from his hands and tore them apart.

Harambee Stars Samuel Olwande control ball on Ahmed Mogni during Group G match of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against at Kasarani stadium. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

“According to the PCR tests copies that were acquired after the match, four players have all tested positive before the match yet took part in the game and risked the contamination of the opposing team as well as their fellow teammates and all officials that were involved in match 94 of the Total African Cup of Nations Qualifiers.”

Kenya Football Federation (KFF) according to the ruling will also pay a hefty fine of USD 20,000 (Sh2.2 million) for breaching the COVID-19 regulations put in place.

“In terms of Caf Statutes and Regulations, in terms of the Covid-19 FAQs and in terms of Articles 82, 83, 133, 134 and 98 of Caf Disciplinary Code.

"The Caf Disciplinary Board has decided to: impose a ban of 6 [six] months on Otieno from all football activities relating to Caf, impose a ban of sixmonths on Oyando from all football activities relating to Caf and impose upon your Federation a financial sanction of USD 20,000 (Sh2.2 million) ."

Reacting to CAF’s decision, FKF CEO Barry Otieno told the media that what has been alleged is not true but they will comply with the verdict.

"I have just learnt about the allegations and will be consulting internally on the next steps," he said in response to media inquiry on the decision of the CAF Displinary Board.

"Nonetheless, I wish to state that everyone who was present, during the incident, including the Match Commissioner, know that what has been alleged is not true. That notwithstanding, CAF has made a decision and as a member we will comply with it"