Fan violence send Gor to the gallows for a year as Football Kenya spits fire

By Omulo Okoth

Gor Mahia has been suspended from the Kenyan Premier League for the rest of the season following chaos that marked their match against perennial rivals AFC Leopards two weeks ago.

Scores of fans were injured and the Nyayo National Stadium was tattered after Gor fans disputed a penalty awarded by referee Davis Omieno on Ali Abondo after a tackle on Amon Muchiri.

The Sports Stadium Management Board was the first to slap a ban on Kenya’s oldest and most popular club from playing on its facilities, Nyayo and Moi Kasarani Stadium.

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) held a meeting on Friday evening where they resolved to suspend K’Ogalo from the league for the rest of the season.

FEAR OR FAVOUR

"We want to be very firm with clubs who cannot control their fans. We shall mete out sanctions without fear or favour, to the mighty and the lesser mortals," said FKF Chairman Sam Nyamweya.

"We appreciate the colour and entertainment Gor fans have brought to our stadiums, but their fans’ behavior is unacceptable," said Nyamweya. He regretted that hardly a week after the chaos at Nyayo, the same fans stormed Afraha Stadium in Nakuru without paying at the gates to watch their club against Sony Sugar.

"We want to send a strong message to football fans and hooligans that we shall bring them down on their knees," said Nyamweya.

"Making Gor or such clubs play in an empty stadium won’t help. They must remain in the cold for the rest of the season," said a firm Nyamweya.

Nyamweya added that part of the problems is caused by female fans, who call themselves Divas. He added that they will ban female fans who stoke violence in the stadium by wearing provocatively. But Gor officials received the announcement with shock.

Gor chairman Ambrose Rachier termed it a "travesty of justice".

Secretary George Bwana declined to comment even after promising to respond to our enquiries.

"Who said those who rioted were our fans? When you meet people wearing Gor jerseys, does it mean they are Gor fans? These could easily be saboteurs our to wreck our club," said Rachier.

"We shall seek justice from the right forum if FKF won’t overturn that draconian decision," said Rachier, who called on "our patron (Prime Minister) Raila Odinga’s intervention."

"Raila should bring his influence to bear on these FKF officials not to punish our beloved club," said Rachier.

When reached at their Nyayo Stadium offices on Friday evening, Bwana promised to issue a statement, but did not call this writer.