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.