COST OF AFC BAN: Leopards to lose Sh2m in gate collections, refuse to pay opponents

AFC Leopards fans invaded the pitch shouting at their player Jumah Abdallah during their KPL match against Thika United at Nyayo National Stadium on Sunday 11/05/14. The match was called off.PHOTO.BONIFACE OKENDO

AFC Leopards will lose about Sh2 million following a decision by Football Kenya Federation (FKF) to ban fans from attending their remaining matches of the season.

The club has three matches remaining before the season ends. Two of the matches are away while one match is at home.

The club is expected to forfeit about Sh700,000 when they play Sofapaka early next month at Mumias Sports Complex while they will be required to compensate Chemelil Sugar and Bandari who are their away opponents.

According to estimates, Chemelil were expecting to collect Sh500,000 this weekend when they host AFC Leopards at Moi Stadium but following the ban on fans, they will lose this money.

The statement from FKF announcing the sanctions made it clear the club has to compensate their opponents for loss of revenue.

Bandari Technical Director Edward Oduor confirmed that the club collected Sh700,000 last year when they played AFC Leopards in Mombasa and this is the money they will be demanding from Leopards.

“FKF has already been in touch with us and we have forwarded evidence of what we collected last season so that we can be compensated. We expect the federation to follow up and ensure the money is paid to us,” he said.

But AFC Leopards have insisted they have no intention of compensating any of their opponents.

The club’s Organising Secretary Timothy Lilumbi insisted there is no rule requiring them to compensate their opponents for loss of revenue.

He insisted that a good number of their opponents hardly collect more than Sh10,000 in gate collections and should not therefore take advantage of the situation to benefit.

“I want to state categorically that it will not happen. What the fans did was unacceptable and we accept all the other sanctions slapped on us except being required to compensate our opponents.

“The truth of the matter is, those teams hardly collect Sh10,000 during their matches and we should not be forced to pay them. That is something we are ready to fight against to the end,” he said.

LOSS OF REVENUE

In a statement released on Tuesday evening, FKF said AFC Leopards will be required to compensate their opponents for loss of revenue in case they are playing away.
“The club has also been fined Sh500,000 payable within seven days and will be required to pay for the medical expenses incurred by the injured match officials and fans. The club must also identify the scouts who assaulted the match officials,” said a statement from the FKF executive committee.
Other sanctions include Leopards forfeiting their place in the play-offs of the GOtv shield and any other benefits they would have been entitled to.

“The federation strongly condemns the acts of hooliganism, violence and destructive behaviour by a section of their misguided fans and this will not be tolerated henceforth. Clubs must endeavour to respect the decisions of the match referees at all times,” added the statement.
The federation however also blamed security men for a slow response in containing the violence and for excessive use of force to curb the violence when it started.