Football in Uganda is in turmoil as the governing body, FUFA, has made the decision to suspend all matches involving Express FC after a shocking incident of fan violence during their Uganda Premier League match against UPDF in Bombo on October 27. The situation has escalated to a point where even referees are refusing to officiate Express matches.
In what is a dark stain on Ugandan football, the Uganda Football Referees Association (UFRA) announced that their members will not be available for matches involving Express FC, primarily due to an alleged attack on assistant referee Fahad Sekayiba by the club’s fans. This act of violence has prompted both concern and outrage, leading to a suspension of Express FC’s matches by FUFA.
The decision to suspend Express FC matches is a response to the chaotic scenes that unfolded during the UPDF vs. Express match. The ugly incidents during this match have raised questions about the safety and security of referees, as well as the behavior of certain football fans in Uganda.
FUFA has emphasized that this decision is made in the best interest of football, aiming to bring those responsible for the violence to justice. Express FC is expected to cooperate with FUFA’s investigations and identify the individuals involved in assaulting the referee.
In the wake of these incidents, disciplinary proceedings have been initiated against Express FC. The club must submit a written statement to the FUFA Disciplinary Panel to address the actions taken and demonstrate why they should not face sanctions according to the regulations.
The violence erupted when assistant referee Fahad Sekayiba was reportedly attacked by Express FC supporters after the UPDF vs. Express league game. Sekayiba was allegedly dragged from the car in which match officials were traveling and brutally beaten. He was left in critical condition and had to be admitted to Mulago Hospital.
The UFRA CEO, Godffrey Kimbugwe, described the actions of Express supporters as “hooliganism, barbaric, and murderous.” The association decided to withdraw all match officials from officiating Express FC matches until the perpetrators are brought to justice. This incident also resulted in damage to a vehicle and an attack on match assessor Denis Batte.
Express FC has distanced itself from the violent scenes, expressing sadness and anger over the attack on referee Fahad Sekayiba. The club vehemently condemned the act of violence and emphasized its commitment to providing a safe environment for fans, players, and officials.
This disturbing incident is not an isolated one in Ugandan football. Fan violence and attacks on referees have been a recurring issue. Recently, FUFA’s Disciplinary Panel took action against several players and officials for violating competition rules and regulations, with many of these cases related to attacks on referees.
For example, Wakiso Giants defender Bashir Asiku received a five-match ban and a fine of UGX 500,000 for attacking match officials after a match against URA FC. In another instance, Mbarara assistant coach Ayub Balyejusa was fined UGX 500,000 for attacking the match assessor, while Gaddafi FC chairman Edrine Ochieng faced a UGX 2m fine for assaulting the referee’s assessor.
