
A Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP), Lydia Donkor, is leading a team of investigators to unravel circumstances that led to acts of hooliganism at the Nana Kronamansah Park at Nsoatre in the Bono region where Nsoatreman hosted Kumasi Asante Kotoko in a Ghana Premier League (GPL) match day 19 clash.
What started as misunderstanding between players over a free kick turned into fisticuffs, followed by a wild brawl as other players and fans of both teams joined with a Kotoko fan, Francis Yaw Frimpong, alias Nana Pooley who was reportedly stabbed to death.
Four red cards were flashed to three Kotoko players including skipper Justice Blay, goalkeeper Mohammed Camara and Kyei Dwamena and Stephen Diyou of Nsoatreman for their roles in the incident.
The Porcupine Warriors lost the game 1-0.
According to a statement from the FA, DCOP Lydia Donkor, who heads the FA’s Security Committee, has commenced work with her team in collaboration with the FA Prosecutor to uncover the circumstances that led to the violence, which also resulted in multiple injuries, and destruction of property.
“The incident – which deserves condemnation from all football stakeholders, will be subjected to full-scale investigations in our attempt to curb hooliganism in our football,” the statement stated.
The team has hit the ground running with a visit to Sunyani yesterday to meet with the Regional Police Command as well as other stakeholders to allow a thorough investigation into the incident and bring persons found culpable to book.
As a first measure, the venue has been closed down indefinitely.
Meanwhile, the incident has attracted outright condemnation from the FA, describing it as “an unacceptable blemish on the integrity of our game.”
Apart from the invocation of Article 14(2) of the Premier League Regulations, to ban the use of the stadium and tasking the security committee to investigate the matter, the GFA has formally engaged the Ghana Police Service to immediately conduct a full-scale investigation into the incident and bring all perpetrators to justice.
“We expect law enforcement agencies to deploy all necessary tools to ensure that those responsible for these heinous acts are identified, arrested, and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
“The GFA reminds all clubs, players, officials, and supporters that there is zero tolerance for acts of violence, intimidation, and hooliganism in Ghana football. The FA will not hesitate to impose severe sanctions on any club, official, or supporter found culpable of engaging in or inciting such behaviour.”
BY ANDREW NORTEY