The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has issued a fine of USD 20,000 [Ksh 2,590,000] to Kenya for security breaches during the ongoing Pamoja CHAN tournament.
The disciplinary action was announced following incidents that occurred during the opening match in Nairobi. Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda are co-hosting the tournament.
CAF’s statement detailed the specific reasons for the fine. The penalties were for poor crowd management and inadequate security arrangements.
A Costly Opening Match
Kenya's fine stems from a chaotic opening game at Kasarani Stadium against DR Congo. The match, which took place last Saturday, was marred by several security issues.
Following the final whistle, a large number of local fans invaded the pitch.
READ ALSO: Make Quick Cash During CHAN: Tips for Nairobi Residents
The fans rushed onto the field to celebrate with the players. They were seen mobbing the team and staff. This led to a brief but significant breakdown of security. It was a clear breach of protocol, putting players and officials at risk.
“The CAF Disciplinary Board charged the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) with breaching Articles 82 and 83 of the CAF Disciplinary Code as well as Articles 15, 31, and 32 of the CAF Safety and Security Regulations during the match between Kenya and DR Congo,” a section of the CAF Disciplinary Board outcome read.
Breakdown of Kenya's CAF Fine
The Board found FKF guilty and imposed the following sanctions:
· A fine of USD 5,000 for the stampede and unauthorised access.
· A fine of USD 10,000 for the assault on CAF personnel and guests.
· A warning for the ignition of fire inside the stadium.
All fines must be paid within 60 days of receiving notification of this decision.
In a separate case, Football Kenya Federation (FKF) was charged with misconduct and breaches of Articles 82 and 83 of the CAF Disciplinary Code of the CAF Safety & Security Regulations following incidents in a TotalEnergies CAF Africa Nations Championship between Morocco and Angola.
The CAF Disciplinary Board found FKF guilty and imposed another fine of USD 5,000, with USD 2,500 suspended, conditional on FKF not committing a similar offence for the remainder of the TotalEnergies CHAN 2024 Final Tournament.
Tanzania, a co-host, also faced a fine from CAF. The Tanzania Football Federation was penalised USD 10,000.
This was for an incident where a fan threw a bottle onto the pitch during a match.
On the Field Against Angola
After the opening match incident, Kenya went on to play their second game against Angola on Thursday. The match was held at the same venue, Kasarani Stadium. The game ended in a hard-fought 1-1 draw, with both teams earning one point.
Security arrangements appeared to be much tighter for this second match. There were no reports of any pitch invasions or fan disruptions.
Comments 0
Sign in to join the conversation
Sign In Create AccountNo comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!