MENGO – Express FC have survived being docked off points due to hooliganism and violence exhibited in their 3-1 loss away to Mbarara City on at the start of this month.
In a letter dated 24th October 2018, the Competitions Disciplinary Panel (CDP) acknowledged that they received a petition from the Uganda Premier League (UPL) about the hooliganism and violent conduct of Express fans during the league match away to Mbarara on 07-10-2018 at Kavumba Recreation Center.
After reviewing the referee and match Assessor’s reports which indicate that Express fans threw stones at the match official in the 14th minute immediately after Mbarara scored and in the 87th minutes towards the 2nd assistant referee forcing the game to stop and later resume after security intervention, the panel decided to dock the Red Eagles two points and two goals but later suspended the sanction.
The decision was taken as per four articles in the FUFA Competitions rules;
1. Article 30(8) (a) which states that, ‘Clubs in a competition are responsible for order and security both inside and outside the stadium before, during and after the matches.
2. Article 30(8) (e) (1) which reads; For avoidance of doubt, acts of violence and hooliganism ‘throwing of any objects with in the ground lawful authority.’
3. Article 30(8) (c). If during game time as defined by the FCR, the acts of hooliganism and violence are committed but the match is completed, the results of the match will be up held. For a league format competition, the defaulting club as found by the CDP and FUFA Disciplinary Committee, will lose two points and two goals from those already accumulated.
4. Article 31(I) (VI) (1). Judicial bodies may suspend the disciplinary action to be taken as warning to deter re-occurrence and once there is re occurrence, full disciplinary action is enforced.
The CDP used the first three articles to dock Express 2 points and as many goals from those already accumulated. However, the sanction was then suspended when article 31(i) (vi) (1) came into play.
Express will feel relieved by the CDP judgment and hope they do not fall into a similar situation in the near future although that can never be a guarantee given the club fans’ hooliganism history.
The Red Eagles are currently in 8th position on the log with five points from four games. Had they been docked the two points and two goals, they would have slipped into 12th.
