Last week Supersport TV decided to revoke its rights to air Kenya Premier League matches involving Gor Mahia FC. Their decision was based on the action by the supporters of the club during their Top 8 match with Ulinzi FC earlier last month when the said supporters, or a part of them, went on the rampage. These supporters had blamed their action on the match officials in charge of the same match who appearing to have been overwhelmed on that occasion, denied Gor Mahia FC both a goal and failed to award a penalty after an Ulinzi player had blatantly handled the ball inside the eighteen yard box. After the match was abandoned, Supersport alleged that one of their cameramen or officials had been injured on the head after being stoned on the head. The said official was later said to have received four stitches on the head. Supersport, thereby held Gor Mahia FC responsible for this outcome and slapped an indefinite ban on airing “live” matches involving the club.
All the above notwithstanding, we are left to wonder whether a sports channel or a TV station has the right to take such a drastic action. It is well known that when it comes to matters involving the discipline of players or clubs, then the local or national federation is the one mandated to mete out punishments it deems fit depending on the seriousness or level of indiscipline so displayed by the “guilty” club. In this case, both the FKL/KFF together with KPL through IDAC, have the mandate and authority to choose the best punishment for K’ogalo.
Secondly, is there irrefutable evidence to show that it was a Gor Mahia fan who threw the stone that injured their official? Or was it a case of taking the easy way out? What I mean is that, since K’ogalo fans were the ones perceived to have caused the mayhem, then why not lay the blame for the official’s injury squarely at the doorsteps of the same team?
The world over, issues of hooliganism are yet to be completely wiped out. There are hooligans who cause mayhem just for the fun of it. That is, they will go on the rampage whether there is a genuine reason to or not. Do the broadcasting stations punish teams for the actions of their fans? Has it been done anywhere else in the world? If yes, where and when did it happen? Aren’t there laws governing football issues in this country? Is the action taken by Supersport part of these rules?
For the case of Gor Mahia FC fans, without appearing to be supporting or encouraging some of their actions, they seemed to have genuine grievances. The problem is that in Kenya, when officials in charge of a match make some terrible mistakes which then end up costing a team either points or trophies, there seems to lack any avenue for recourse. Once the match is over, the aggrieved team is left with nothing to do other than to accept the results without any option of appeal and to add insult to injury, the same officials will be seen in charge of other matches in the duration of the season. A credible league or tournament requires credible officials to oversee its matches. It also requires credible rules and regulations which clearly state what can or cannot be done by all the parties concerned.
The authorities in charge of football in this country need to come out and state their position in relation to Supersport’s decision. There is the valid argument to be made on the need to stamp out hooliganism from our stadiums so that it is conducive for families, especially for the elderly, children and women, so that they are able to attend matches without fearing for their safety. However, it is equally important to dissect the underlying issues and deal with them conclusively; otherwise we will only be treating the symptoms instead of the disease.
K’ogalo fans in their Facebook page, have made it clearly known what their stand is in this matter. But perhaps it would be great to remind us all, that we are all stakeholders where football is concerned in this country. Each of us has a voice and we must be heard. If there is no avenue to air our grievances or complaints, then the actions by both K’ogalo fans and Supersport, will become our modus operandi.
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