Minister of Youth and Sports, Kofi Adams, has strongly condemned the violent scenes that disrupted the Division One League clash between Basake Holy Stars and Nations FC at Ayinase.
The Matchday 33 encounter at the Ampain AAK II Sports Arena ended prematurely after Nations FC players and officials protested a second controversial penalty awarded to the home side. Tensions boiled over, resulting in violent scenes that forced Nations FC to walk off the pitch.
Speaking in an interview with Sporty FM, the Minister expressed deep disappointment over the incident and called for urgent reforms to prevent a recurrence.
“I have been informed about the unfortunate incident, though I have not yet received a full briefing on what exactly transpired,” he said. “Investigations are ongoing, but it is unfortunate that we continue to witness such scenes in our football.”
Mr. Adams emphasized the need to educate club owners and managers, suggesting that a lack of understanding of football rules among key stakeholders is contributing to tensions during matches.
“What must be done is to have proper education of the club owners, even before we turn to the fans,” he stated.
“Some club owners are not up to the task beyond financing their teams. Some managers are clueless about what football entails. We need to address this group before focusing on the fans, referees, and match commissioners.”
The Minister further stressed the importance of enforcing stricter sanctions on individuals who incite or engage in acts of violence at football venues.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has confirmed that it has opened investigations into the chaos that marred the game and is expected to take disciplinary action following the findings.
