KAMPALA: The local football governing body, Fufa, cracked the whip on Onduparaka FC by docking points and banning one of the club’s players and officials over acts of hooliganism that led to the abandonment of their Uganda Premier League match against KCCA FC last month.
The game between Onduparaka and KCCA at the Green Light stadium in Arua on December 27, 2021 was marred by hooliganism as home fans stormed the pitch after referee Ronald Madanda awarded a penalty to KCCA in the closing minutes. Although sanity was restored and KCCA converted the penalty for a 2-2 draw, Fufa’s Competitions Disciplinary Panel, Investigations Chamber, and Referees Disciplinary Panel took up duty to probe the incidents of hooliganism.
Accordingly, hosts Onduparaka FC were found guilty of breaching the rules, and the club was deducted two points and two goals. Fufa has also ordered the game to be replayed at a neutral venue that will be decided by the Uganda Premier League secretariat soon.
Furthermore, Onduparaka FC player Rashid Okocha and chief executive officer Edson Saba Saba are banned for five and three months, respectively. Okocha will also pay a fine of Shs 1 million to Fufa.
Both Okocha and Saba Saba were found guilty of abusing match officials and inciting fans.
The referee, Madanda, is suspended for six months. He was found guilty of poorly handling the game.
Fufa Spokesman Ahmed Hussein told this website that the suspensions took immediate effect after they were announced on December 31, 2021.
Hussein added that their latest punishment of Onduparaka, its player and official, should be a clear signal to all clubs and players that Fufa is not ready to tolerate hooliganism in 2022.