CAF President determined to eradicate violence in African football

25 November 2014 09:21

Cairo, November 25, 2014. Following the tragic incidents that resulted in the death of three people in the Democratic Republic of Congo at the end of a match of the local championship on Sunday, November 23 in Lubumbashi between FC St. Eloi Lupopo and Sangabalende of Mbuji-Mayi, the President of CAF shares the grief of the families and relatives of the victims of this latest tragedy that saddens African football.

“Football must remain a moment of good association, fellowship, sharing, celebration and joy; values that are legendary with the African people’s culture of hospitality and solidarity. So it is always saddening and with dismay that we have to vehemently disapprove of such events,” Hayatou said.

According to medical sources quoted by Agence France Presse (who reported the tragic news on November 24), two of the victims were shot dead and a third died after being trampled on by the crowd following clashes with police.

Five other people were injured. The Mayor of Lubumbashi acknowledged that police fired live ammunition at violent supporters who were allegedly dissatisfied with a decision of the referee.

The CAF President, in presenting the condolences of the African football fraternity to families of the deceased, ordered the Congolese Football Federation (FECOFA) to take strong precautionary measures to guarantee the safety of all: players, spectators and officials at all matches pending an investigation into the tragedy by the authorities.

In September, during the 2014 CAF annual meetings held in Addis Ababa, the Executive Committee of Africa’s football governing body, following a request made by the President of CAF, agreed to set up a working group whose mandate is to propose solutions to curb what Hayatou considered two major scourges plaguing African football today; namely: violence at stadia and age-cheating.

Hayatou also underscored African football’s strong stand against violence in August this year in the aftermath of the death of JS Kabylie and Cameroon striker Albert Ebosse who was killed by a projectile at the end of a match of the Algerian championship.

Said Hayatou: “African football cannot be the breeding ground for some phenomenon of hooliganism whatsoever. We expect exemplary sanctions to be taken, because violence has no place in African football in particular and sport in general. We remain steadfast and state in the strongest terms our commitment to eradicate all forms of violence or unsporting behaviour from the continent.”

The CAF Executive Committee in September also resolved to name after Ebosse the CAF Fair Play Award.

Confederation of African Football (CAF) News