This act of hooliganism and violence have been continuously discussed by the “media” since the start of the GhPL and DOL, on how clubs fans have involved themselves in rioting, bullying, and vandalism in the various stadia.
The truth is that Ghanaians clubs have fans with hooligans tendencies. Instead of pinpointing the most hooligans club, let us condemn the act and find solution to them.
To be frank, hooliganism has been rapidly increasing day after day, month’s after months at both GhPL and DOL centre’s, and it’s getting out of hands. And that has even prevent most teams from getting more away wins.
*1.VIOLENCE AGAINST REFEREES.*
Fans always harasses Referees on some of their decision been taken on the field of play.
CASE STUDY: 1
*Division One League side Bibiani Gold Stars have been handed a ban of ten home matches as well as a fine of GHC15,000 for beating a referee in their clash with Elmina Sharks.*
Bibiani Gold Stars FC was charged with three (3) counts as per the Charge Sheet. But I’m interested in the first count, which is the Referee.
On the first count, Bibiani Gold Stars FC was charged for the behaviour of the club’s supporters when on the 38th min. of the match, the Assistant Referee 1 flagged for an offside, the supporters threw stones at the assistant referee with one of the stones hurting him in the process which resulted in a 19 minute hold up of play in violation of Articles 52, 58 and 59 of the Disciplinary Code and Articles 35(3)(b), 35(4), 35(7)(d) and 35(10) the GFA General Regulations.
QUESTIONS: were there any fans arrested for this shambolic act?
ANS: Yes, and they were arrested even because they imposes curse on Chief commander Kumi (Bibiani district commander). But was released later after the Chief and some of the Elders in Bibiani township presented a “he goat ” in a form of solidarity on behalf of Gold stars fans who were arrested after the game.
QUESTION 2: Is the GFA rules and regulations that effective?
ANS: Most are of the view that there is selective justice when it comes to punishment of clubs, it only works when it comes to placing ban on stadia and also fining clubs(which is also a source of income to the association).
CASE STUDY 2:
*Wa All Stars stun Hearts of Oak in Accra; a game marred by crowd violence.* It was a beautiful game marred by crowd violence as Hearts of Oak supporters in registering their displeasure regarding the performance of the centre referee, Ernest Baafi threw a lot of missiles on the field. On the charge sheet against Hearts Of Oak, they were charged on three counts, and the second count is the violence against Referee Ernest Baafi.
On the second count, Hearts are also charged for a breach of Articles 58 and 59 of the GFA Disciplinary Code and Articles 35(1)(a), 35(3)(b), 35(4), 35(7)(a) and 35(7)(d) the GFA General Regulations in respect of this match.
The particulars of the second offence reads: “That at half time when the match officials were walking to the dressing room your supporters threw water bottles and other objects at the match officials.
That during the second half of play, anytime a decision goes against your club, your supporters threw water bottles and other objects at the two assistant referees and onto the field of play in violation of the GFA Regulations.
QUESTION: Was there any supporter who was arrested in this violence? ANS: No……But the team was ban from playing their two home match indoors without their fans and fined an amount of GHC 12, 0000. 00.(source of income to the federation)
*2.VIOLENCE AGAINST OWN PLAYERS AND OFFICIALS.*
This one has caused problems against many teams and officials have had to hide from fans and even escorted out of the stadium using police escort.
CASE STUDY: 1
*In national women’s league, Northern Ladies: in a game between Northern Ladies and Ampem Darkoa Ladies at the Temale sports stadium, Northern Ladies failed to control their supporters and the players. They attacked, caned and beat Ampem Darkoa Ladies in the violation against GFA regulations following the collapsed of one Ampem Darkoa Ladies player.*
But the defence(Northern Ladies) pleaded NOT GUILTY for such offences. Waived the club right to personal hearing and submitted a statement of defence.
NB:After the violence pictures seculating on social media they still denied the offence.
Even just recently at Bechem, Hearts of Oak fans hunted their players and technical bench for losing to Bechem united by Montie trio with a cancellation(3-1).
(2) Don’t forget a whole GfA chief security Mr. Isaac Koomson was brutally assorted at DOL centre in a game between Okyeman planners and Danbort fc.
*3.VIOLENCE AGAINST SECURITY PERSONEL.*
Very seldom but it has happened before in GPL and DOL centre’s. A whole chief commander in Elmina was slapped at stadium for preventing fans violence in a DOL game.
*4.VIOLENCE AGAINST OPPOSITION FANS.*
GPL has not recorded any serious incident recently after the “May 9th disaster at Accra sports stadium between the two rivals Hearts and Kotoko which took the lives of 127 people, making it the worst stadium disaster to have ever taken place in Africa
*5.VIOLENCE AGAINST THE MEDIA.*
It over my imagination how the media who reports, do commentaries and even promote matches were attacked at the various stadia.
Two case I have witnessed:
(1)Hearts of Oak fans attacked journalist Samuel Boakye-Buckman known in social media as “Dada Oliseh” over Facebook comment.
(2)Kotoko fans attacked journalist over a dubious penalty comments in a GPL match against Dreams fc.
NB: The various football bodies issued a statement of condemnation but up to now none of the supporters were punished for their shambolic act’s.
*SOLUTION:* More security personnel needs at the GPL and DOL stadia, and the GFA should introduce stewards into the various stadia for effective supervision.
In Malawi the two top clubs of Big Bullets and Wanderers had the attendances of thier DERBY match reduces so that the stadium was never full to reduce crowd violence and we can practice this in Ghana.
In Ghana, most occasions fans of different clubs sit together so its good for the match but clubs need to put stronger measures to ignore chances of fan violence.
The GFA in collaboration with the GHALCA should introduce fan tournaments that can help to sensitize and teach fans the wrongs of violence in Ghana stadia.
At the end of the DAY we should all SAY NO TO VIOLENCE FOR THE BETTERMENT OF GHANA FOOTBALL. long live Ghana Football …long live GhPL
BY:BENJAMIN OWUSU (BENGEE)