- AFC fans stormed the pitch and caused the abandonment of their match against Homeboyz
- They have been docked three points and the game awarded to Homeboyz
- They will play four home matches without fans
FKF Premier League side AFC Leopards have been docked three points and fined Sh500,000 following the chaos that led to the abandonment of their tie against Kakamega Homeboyz last weekend.
The game at the Bukhungu Stadium was halted in the 28th minute after fans stormed the pitch protesting a decision from the referee. It was ultimately abandoned with the situation unbearable and the match officials also physically attacked by the fans.
The Football Kenya Federation disciplinary committee delivered the ruling, stating that Leopards were fully responsible for the abandonment.
“The FKF-PL Round 25 match no. 222 be awarded to Kakamega Homeboyz on a three (3) points-two (2) goals basis. That AFC Leopards SC be docked a further three (3) points from the already accumulated points,” a statement from the Federation read.
Trouble started in the match after the Kakamega Homeboyz keeper allegedly handled the ball outside the area, and it made the fans irate as the referee did not award a freekick.
Contested decisions
Homeboyz’s opener in the 24th minute was also contested as the Leopards players and bench argued that the corner from which they scored should not have been awarded as the last touch came off their own player.
The match was attended by the Kakamega Governor Fernandes Baraza.
Further, AFC Leopards have been ordered to play their next four home matches behind closed doors, a huge dent to the support they were receiving from home fans this season.
Leopards had been pushed a great deal by their fans who had come back to stadia in their droves and now, the sanction will have a great effect on their squad.
The Federation has also directed the club to cater for the medical expenses incurred by centre referee Michael Obuya in receiving treatment from the injuries he sustained after being attacked by irate fans.
Further to those tough sanctions, disciplinary action is also set to be taken on their head coach Patrick Aussems and goalkeeper trainer Lawrence Webo.
“Disciplinary proceedings be opened by the FKF Disciplinary Committee on Mr. Patrick Aussems and Mr. Lawrence Webo for their Conduct in the said match,” the Federation further said in the statement.
With three points docked from their current count, Leopards will drop to seventh in the standings with 37 points, 17 behind leaders Tusker FC and effectively dashing their hopes of battling for the title.
Shikanda calls for referees’ probe
Leopards chairman Dan Shikanda had earlier on stated that the club were dismayed by the poor level of refereeing this season.
“We condemn cases of hooliganism but also, action should be taken on such referees who are always dragging the game back with some dubious decisions,” the chairman said in a previous interview just after the game.
Cases of hooliganism in the Premier League have hugely dropped over the last few years and the last time such heavy sanctions were taken on a team was in 2016 when Gor Mahia were docked points and fined after chaos that marred their match against Tusker FC.
The decision proved to be catastrophic for them at the end of the season as the brewers edged them out for the title.
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