Shabana Football Club has moved to the Sports Dispute Tribunal to challenge the decision by the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) to ban their fans from attending their next five matches.
The action follows fans’ unrest at Shabana’s game against Ulinzi Stars at Ulinzi stadium that saw destruction of chairs at the stadium on 22nd September 2024.
It is alleged that the chaos was caused by poor officiating by the referee, claims still under investigations.
The court head that the matter remains unresolved, and a conclusive determination has not been made regarding the circumstances that led to the incident.
Through lawyers Danstan Omari, Shadrack Wambui and Sam Nyaberi, the team want the court to set aside the decision by FKF issued on 25th September 2024, pending the hearing and determination of the appeal.
Omari stated that the 5-match ban is disproportionate to the alleged offenses committed and risks unfairly penalizing the club for the actions of a minority of fans.
“The severity of the ban does not align with the club’s history, values, and commitment to sportsmanship and fair play,” Omari added.
According to Jefferson Kiyondi, Shabana’s CEO, the circumstances surrounding the incidents, including the poor officiating, the late equalizer, and the emotional intensity of the match, provide important context for understanding the fans’ reactions.
“These mitigating factors should be taken into account when assessing the club’s culpability and determining an appropriate sanction,” Kiyondi said.
The CEO further states in his affidavit that the 5-match ban poses significant adverse consequences for Shabana Football Club, including financial implications, reputational harm, and disruptions to the team’s competitive schedule.
He added, “the ban threatens the club’s ability to fulfill its obligations and compete effectively in upcoming matches.”
According to Omari, the bans will also financially affect Kenyans who sell/hawk during the matches to make a livelihood.
The federations’ Leagues and Competition Committee (LCC) found the club liable for the offenses through admission noting that a deterrent punishment would be necessary.
In the verdict signed by LCC Chairman Michael Majua, Shabana FC will also bear the cost of the damaged seats as a deterrent to any form of hooliganism in football.
