No Ghanaian football fan needs to be rememdered of what happened on May 9th 2001. The disaster that struck Ghana in the early 21st century was very sad and anything that will send a signal that disaster can strike again should not be entertained.
At the Red Stand (Amakom Gate) during the injury time of the second half when Ghana was chasing equaliser, some aggrieved fans were spotted throwing bottles of water onto the pitch and at their fellow fans.
What actually was the cause? No one exactly can explain. Those on top of the Red Stand were spotted exchanging bottles of water with those under the stand. It was getting nasty as it forced many to force their way out without thinking of the dangers.
Earlier on, many fans at the AMASS Gate were heard screaming, “push push puuusshhhh….” Why were they screaming ‘pusshhh’? What were they pushing for? And why were they eager to break the gate and force their way to the stadium?
They were frustrated for not getting easy access to enter the venue after buying electronic tickets. More than 10,000 fans were outside the venue even with 10 minutes of action played.
A policeman clicked his gun, fired a warning shot to scare fans so that they could move backward. Fans were eager to watch their darlings live but their approach was very wrong. Gates at the AMASS Gate were forcefully broken by the aggrieved fans all because the arrangements concerning ticketing was so poor.
A fan was arrested by the police after he entered the pitch with his phone to take an unauthorized selfies with the beleaguered stars. The issue of fans breaking barriers to step on the pitch during and after games unapproved is little by little becoming an issue that Ghana must address. It has become a norm for fans to illegally step on pitches during Black Stars games which is so wrong.
What if an aggrieved fan one day hurt a player? What if an official is attacked? What if a technical person is attacked?
This is an issue that really suggests Ghanaians haven’t learned anything from the 2001 disaster.
After the game, some fans destroyed advertising board to show how angry they are. What’s the role of the deployed policemen, soldiers and stewards? It’s time they started arresting the indiscipline ones for the nation to prosecute them.
People must start facing the law for trying to destroy state properties. It hurts to lose at home but the solution is not being violent.
Ghanaians need massive education on our various football grounds because people think it’s normal to attack anyone at stadium.
Nothing shows that any measures have been put in place to stop
indiscipline in football fans in Ghana.
