- FKF hit with Ksh 6.5M CAF fine over security breaches during Kenya vs Morocco match on Sunday at Kasarani Stadium
- Earlier, FKF was also penalized for violating Articles 82 and 83 of the CAF Disciplinary Code, and Articles 15, 31, and 32 of the Safety and Security Regulations during their opener against DR Congo.
- In a separate incident, FKF faced further charges for misconduct and breaching the same disciplinary articles, along with Article 43, following the match against Angola.
The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has once again found itself in hot water, this time receiving a hefty fine from the Confederation of African Football Disciplinary Board(CAF).
The federation has been penalized USD 50,000 (approximately Ksh 6.4 million) for multiple safety and security violations during the Kenya vs Morocco match held at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, on last Sunday.
The Group A clash of the CHAN 2024 tournament saw Harambee Stars edge out Morocco 1-0.
However, the event was overshadowed by serious security lapses after fans forced their way into the stadium, disregarding ticketing protocols.
ALSO READ: CAF limits Kenya vs Zambia crowd to 27K after multiple security breaches
This resulted in an overcrowded venue, a clear contravention of CAF’s stringent regulations.
The Disciplinary Board found Kenya guilty and imposed a fine of USD 50,000. Kenya was warned that continued failure to meet CAF safety and security requirements may lead to the relocation of Kenya’s National Team matches to an alternative venue,” read an official CAF statement released on Wednesday.
CAF has further advised Kenya to enhance its security apparatus by deploying adequate personnel around the stadium and strictly enforcing road closures on match days.
This development comes barely a day after the CAF executive body, under the leadership of Patrice Motsepe, imposed further restrictions on Kenya.
For their final group stage match against Zambia at Kasarani Stadium, the fan capacity has been reduced from 48,000 to 27,000, a direct consequence of Sunday’s debacle.
ALSO READ: FKF to establish official CHAN 2024 fan zones as CAF caps stadium capacity
FKF President and the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) have condemned the unruly behavior, urging Kenyans to observe the rules and remain at home if they do not possess valid tickets.
Plans are underway to establish fan zones to accommodate more supporters in a controlled environment.
FKF faces mounting penalties from CAF for earlier infractions
This is not the first time Kenya has incurred penalties from CAF in their debut CHAN tournament, which they are co-hosting alongside Uganda and Tanzania.
During their opening match against DR Congo, FKF was found in violation of Articles 82 and 83 of the CAF Disciplinary Code, along with Articles 15, 31, and 32 of the CAF Safety and Security Regulations.
The sanctions imposed were as follows:
- A fine of USD 5,000 for the stampede and unauthorized stadium access.
- A fine of USD 10,000 for the assault on CAF personnel and VIP guests.
- A formal warning over the ignition of flares and fires within the venue.
Moreover, FKF was recently charged again for misconduct and breaches of Articles 82 and 83 of the CAF Disciplinary Code, in addition to Articles 31, 32, and 43 of the CAF Safety & Security Regulations.
These infractions occurred during Kenya’s encounter with Angola. As a result, CAF imposed a fine of USD 5,000, with USD 2,500 suspended on condition that FKF avoids any further violations for the remainder of the TotalEnergies CHAN 2024 Final Tournament.