GFA fines Lions

The Disciplinary Committee of the Ghana Football Association (GFA)  has slapped a fine of GH¢1,000 on Kpando Heart of Lions for failing to control their supporters during their game against Bechem United at Kpando.

During the match, supporters of the home team were said to have thrown stones at the assistant referee, James Osarfo, with one of the stones hitting him, resulting in about a minute hold-up in violation of Articles 35(1) (b) of the GFA Regulations.

In addition, Lions have been banned from playing one match at their favourite Kpando park. The ban, however, was served last Sunday when they hosted Berekum Chelsea at the Obuasi Len Clay Stadium.

The supporters were said to have pursued the match officials on their way to the dressing room, which resulted in the scratching of the thumb of the other assistant referee, Ben Vormawor, in violation of Articles 35(1a) and 35(1b) of the GFA General Regulations.

They then held both the away team and match officials hostage in the dressing room for about 45 minutes until  police re-enforcement was called in to control the angry mob.

The crowd conduct was in violation of Article 58 of the Disciplinary Code and Article 35(1a) and 35(3c) of the GFA General Regulations.

The Committee, in its statement, stated that Lions, in their defence signed by their president, Randy Abbey, pleaded guilty to the charges.

However, it said the Lions statement denied that  stones were thrown at the match officials.

 “We, at Heart of Lions FC, pride ourselves as regulation-abiding supporters of the game as a previous winner of the PLB Best Behaved Centre,” the statement stated.