Ugly Scenes Unfolded at the Molyko Omnisport Stadium in Buea on Friday August 2, 2024, during the semi finals of the Fako Departmental League, a game between Etoke Sports Academy-ESAFUP and LionHeart Elite Soccer Academy-LESA from Mutengene and Tiko respectively.
The game ended prematurely after players of LESA attacked the match officials who had awarded a penalty and a red card following a foul.
The controversial penalty almost caused the referee and other match officials heavily.
There was total chaos with the players of LESA and their officials totally on rampage. Colleagues who rushed to the rescue of the match officials had their share of the assault.
Earlier on, the referee had awarded two red cards to team LESA’s player and the Assistant coach.
At the time of the penalty, about 10 official minutes were left to play with score-line still zero for both sides.
The semi final game programmed to start at 1:30pm local time, commenced almost an hour late with officials of LESA refusing to play the game on grounds that the referee should control the Licenses of ESAFUP players.
After intensed aguement and delays, it took a phone call via the Match Commissioner from the president of Southwest FECAFOOT, Ndazeh Valery who to the hearing of the match officials and coaches, gave firm instructions for the game to go on.
FIFA laws forbid violence on match officials, reasons why the homologation and Decipline Committee-HDC of the league will sanction LESA.
Many pundits have blamed organisers of the league for not providing security in a tensed semi final game.
The second game between Buea City FC and Destiny Restoration Sports Academy did not take place with the officials of DRSA insisting that their openent must present their license.
This time around a phone call could not rescue the situation. The president of the Regional League drove to the stadium but DRSA maintained that the law must be respected.
For now only the HDC will make further rulling with the suspense high amongst observers.
