National Divion One Zone two side Skyy FC have been handed home venue ban from the Executive Council of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) following assaults on the Officials and Players of FC Samartex 1996 by theier supporters in the zone two League match between Skyy FC and FC Samartex on Sunday, April 3, 2022.
The FA has banned Skyy FC from playing their home matches at their favourite St Martins School park in Daboase indefinitely with immediate effect.
According to the GFA, “the Competitions Department of the GFA will now fix the venues for the upcoming home matches of Skyy Fc with due regards to the distance to be travelled by the away teams”. This is to ensure that away teams are in turn punished indirectly.
The FA on Monday, April 4, published on its website the content of its letter to Skyy FC on the matter, and we quote the letter below:
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The seminars and meetings on Safety and Security at match venues organised by the Ghana Football Association (GFA) for clubs and the GFA regulations on Safety and Security refer.
It is against this background of the efforts invested in promoting the safety and security at our matches that the Association is shocked and extremely alarmed at the criminal assaults on some officials and players of the away team, FC Samartex 1996 before, during and after the Division One League match by your home supporters at the St Martins School park, Daboase on Sunday, April 3, 2022.
The Executive Council has accordingly exercised itspowers under Article 14(2) of the Division One League Regulations and has ban the venue indefinitely.
14(2)“The GFA may order the closure of any league centre/venue where the safety of clubs, match officials and/or spectators cannot be guaranteed”.
The GFA Prosecutors have been tasked to prefer the appropriate Charges immediately and for theDisciplinary Committee to sit on this matter expeditiously.
The GFA demands that Skyy Football Club shall immediately assist the Police to cause the arrest of the persons involved in the attack, without fail, in accordance with the promise given by the clubs to the Inspector General of Police in our engagement with the leadership of the Ghana Police Service.
The Association has instructed the Competitions Department to fix the venues for the upcoming home matches of Skyy FC with due regards to the distance to be travelled by the away teams (note that matches can be fixed at the home of the away team, if required).
That all clubs are to take note and comply strictly with the GFA Matchday COVID-19 Protocols and the Safety & Security regulations.
The GFA wishes to sound a strong note of caution to all members (especially all clubs) that the slightest harassment or attack on Club Officials, Supporter, Team Officials, players, Match Officials (Referees, Match Commissioners, GFA Cameramen & Women, Venue Media Officers) and the media shall be dealt with severely and swiftly.
Also, any comments from any player, team or club official and club social media handles which incites supporters against match officials shall be dealt with as well.
There shall be zero tolerance for violence and incitement to violence in our game especially in this second round of the leagues”.
