AFC Leopards have announced they are pulling out of the Kenyan Premier League Top 8 tournament in the wake of crowd trouble in their league match against Gor Mahia on Sunday.
Leopards were scheduled to play Gor Mahia on April 1 in the knockout tournament that brings together the first eight-placed teams in the Kenyan Premier League (KPL). According to Leopards chairman, Alex Ole Magelo, the move is to avoid further violence as intelligence revealed Ingwe fans are planning to avenge injuries sustained by scores of their fans.
“It is a tough decision we are making but it is in the interest of the safety of our fans,” Magelo told FeverPitch at a Nairobi Hotel where Football Kenya Federation (FKF) is meeting with KPL officials to review the Sunday violence.
Gor Mahia fans went on the rampage inside the Nyayo National Stadium to protest the sending off of midfielder Victor Ali Abondo following a high tackle on Leopards defender Amon Muchiri. Quick action, however, by the Kenya Police saved the situation but the unruly fans took their action to the streets — stoning motorists in the process.
The scores were tied 0-0 at the time of the sending off and Gor Mahia held on to share the spoils against the in-form AFC Leopards.
Report by James Waindi, writing by Robin Toskin
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