Rival Fans Clash Prior to Kenyan Premier League Match, Over 70 Injured
(MENAFN) Over seventy football supporters sustained injuries on Sunday in a bout of violence that erupted prior to a tense Kenyan Premier League match between Shabana FC and Gor Mahia FC. The incident occurred approximately two hours before the scheduled kickoff at the Gusii Stadium in Kisii, western Kenya.
According to reports, the chaos began when large groups of opposing fans started throwing stones and other objects at each other within the overcrowded stadium, which had already exceeded its 5,000-person capacity. The clashes triggered widespread panic, leading to a stampede as fans desperately sought to escape while police, including paramilitary officers, attempted to restore order.
The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) issued a statement late Sunday confirming that, contrary to initial media reports of a fatality, there were no deaths. The FKF stated that verified reports from four hospitals in Kisii and the police indicated that 72 individuals received treatment for injuries.
Law enforcement eventually managed to control the situation, removing the disruptive fans, and the match proceeded as planned at 4 pm local time. The FKF announced it is collaborating with the relevant authorities to investigate the causes of the unrest and cautioned that strict disciplinary actions will be implemented once the investigations are complete.
This incident marks the most significant mass casualty event at a Kenyan football stadium since October 2010, when seven fans died during a highly charged derby match in Nairobi involving Gor Mahia and Leopards. Following that deadly event, Nairobi's Nyayo National Stadium was temporarily banned by the Confederation of African Football and only recently regained clearance to host international matches after renovations and subsequent suspensions.
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