Gor Mahia blame Shabana for stadium chaos, urge FKF to act

Gor Mahia FC have blamed Shabana FC for the ugly scenes witnessed at Gusii Stadium on Sunday, describing the violence as “a disgrace to Kenyan football.”

In a strongly worded statement released Monday, the club accused Shabana, the home team, of failing to ensure proper security for a match that had been flagged as high-risk.

“What we witnessed before, during, and after the match was unacceptable. It was clear that adequate security arrangements had not been made,” read part of the statement from Gor Mahia’s Executive Committee.

The club further revealed that several of its supporters sustained serious injuries, claiming the attacks appeared to have been pre-planned.

“We regret to announce that a number of our fans were injured in the chaos. We wish them a quick and full recovery,” the statement continued.

Gor Mahia also took issue with how the match was allowed to proceed, despite advice from local security agencies. According to the club, the Officer Commanding Police Division (OCPD) for Kisii Sub County had advised against the match going on, citing a volatile environment.

The club claims that even the Match Commissioner had initially agreed to call off the game after visiting the team bus, which had been held outside the VVIP gate due to a standoff with Shabana officials.

“We were completely taken aback when the Match Commissioner reversed his position, saying he had been instructed by FKF to proceed with the match at all costs. How can someone sitting in Nairobi overrule ground-level security intelligence?” the statement posed.

Gor Mahia have now called on the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) to take firm action, warning that the safety of players and fans is at risk if such incidents are left unchecked.

“The top league must be taken seriously. The rules and regulations must be followed to the letter. What happened in Kisii should never happen again,” Gor Mahia declared.

The club also criticized Shabana FC for failing to control its stewards and fans, citing multiple pitch invasions and the throwing of bottles and other objects that led to the game being stopped several times.

The Football Kenya Federation released a formal statement on Sunday evening, saying it is working with authorities to establish the root cause of the violence and take disciplinary action.

The federation emphasized that football must always remain a sport that unites, not divides.

FKF President Hussein Mohamed condemned the chaos and called for swift action.

“FKF strongly condemns all forms of violence in our stadiums. Football must remain a sport that brings people together, not one that puts lives at risk. The safety and well-being of fans, players, and officials remain a top priority for the Federation,” he said.

“It is time for more action and less talk,” he added.