Ghana FA resolves to deal drastically with hooligans

The Professional League Board (PLB) of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) resolved to deal drastically with acts of hooliganism at league centres in the last four matches of the country's Premier League.

"The PLB has taken the decision to reinforce security at various centres in the remaining matches of the league," a statement by Kwame Ampem Darko, deputy general secretary in charge of technical matters, said Tuesday, reports Xinhua.

The league organisers condemned the barbaric acts witnessed during some of the recent matches and advised football clubs to restrain their supporters forthwith from visiting brutality on their opponents.

The PLB also reminded Ghanaian football fans that the name of the game is "fair play and tolerance" and not brutality and intolerance, adding that stern punishment awaited all wrongdoers in accordance with regulations governing the game and its participation.

Ghana's Premier League has over the past two weeks been characterised by violence and crowd hooliganism, with fans spotted openly assaulting club officials. Some Ghanaian football-loving fans have called for the introduction of stewards in the various stadia to ensure the safety of spectators and match officials. According to them, the stewards would help control crowd hooliganism at the stadiums and help provide serene environments for fans.

As a first step to stamp its authority on the game and tackle violence and hoodlums, the disciplinary committee of the GFA Tuesday found league side Berekum Arsenal guilty of crowd troubles during and after their Premier League match against Hearts of Oak March 19 at Berekum.

Fans of the club rushed onto the field after Hearts had scored, holding up play for two minutes. The fans also massed after the game in front of the referees' dressing room and held them hostage for 20 minutes.

The GFA, accordingly imposed a fine of 8,000 cedis ($4,200) on the club for the unwholesome behaviour of its supporters as per GFA regulation 39(7)(a).