Gor Mahia and Shabana FC could face serious sanctions following the chaos that ensued when the two teams met for a Kenya Premier League match at the Gusii stadium on Sunday. Before the match, there was a stampede at the stadium, which was filled beyond capacity with eager fans, as tensions ahead of the so-called 'Nyanza derby' reached fever pitch, resulting in some chaos. The Football Kenya Federation has since released a statement condemning some unfortunate scenes witnessed at the Gusii Stadium, as the body confirmed investigations were underway to determine what sparked the fracas. Through the statement signed by FKF President Hussein Mohammed, the Federation confirmed that at least 72 fans had to be rushed to the hospital with injuries from the incident. Scenes at Gusii Stadium during the match between Gor Mahia and Shabana FC Photo City Mirror "FKF strongly condemns all forms of force in our stadiums.
Football must remain a sport that brings people together, not one that puts lives at risk," the statement read.
The safety and well-being of fans, players and officials remain a top priority for the Federation. In the build-up to the Sunday game, there were hints that things could go haywire, particularly after the stadium filled up long before kickoff.
By 1pm, hundreds of fans were without seats as they continued pouring into the stadium, which was overwhelmed beyond its capacity. Images and videos obtained by Kenyans.co.ke painted a worrying picture, as fans could be seen at the stands engaging in physical confrontation.
