AFC Leopards kicked out of Mozzart Bet Cup tourney over crowd trouble
Decision follows incident during match against Mara Sugar at Kisumu's Mamboleo Stadium
AFC Leopards are out of the running for the 2025 FKF-Mozzart Bet Cup after the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Leagues and Competitions Committee fined them over their fans trouble that affected the Round 32 fixture against Mara Sugar FC.
The decision follows crowd trouble at Kisumu’s Mamboleo Stadium on March 8 after the centre referee cancelled a penalty he had given to Leopards just moments after he had pointed to the spot following infringement in the 89th minute. This angered the crowd with a section storming the pitch baying for the official’s blood prompting stoppage and subsequent abandonment with police forced to intervene to salvage the situation. They were joined by players and a section of stewards.
Initially, when he had pointed to the spot, Mara Sugar FC players accosted the referee who prompted him to consult his line assistant and cancel the spot-kick much to the anger of the Leopards team.
It is against this backdrop that FKF Leagues & Competitions Committee faulted the Ingwe fan behaviour and thereby gifted Mara Sugar a pass to the Round of 16. The hearing was conducted by the Committee which upon investigations and match report concluded that AFC Leopards was wholly at fault.
“AFC Leopards SC fans through their misconduct caused the abandonment of the match, after they invaded the field of play to protest against the referee’s decision to rescind an earlier awarded penalty,” it said in a statement.
“Additionally, following the abandonment, and in accordance with Article 6.4(iv) of the Mozzart Bet Cup Regulations as read with Article 3.5.6 of the Rules & Regulations governing Kenyan football, AFC Leopards SC shall forfeit the match and the same shall be awarded to Mara Sugar FC who shall progress to the next round of the Competition.”
“That AFC Leopards SC be, and is hereby warned against the misconduct of their fans and be advised to come up with adequate measures to curb cases of hooliganism and violence during their matches.”
In the next 21 days, the Committee is expected to issue a detailed and comprehensive report to all the parties.
