Gor Mahia midfielder Kenneth Muguna and goalkeeper Bonface Oluoch have been fined been fined Ksh 1.6 million each after taking part in a pitch fight in Zambia.
The two have also been handed a four-game ban which affects their appearance in any CAF inter-club competition. Muguna and Oluoch are said to have attacked the centre referee during the CAF Confederations match against NAPSA Stars in Lusaka, Zambia.
The fracas arose after South African referee Lebalang Mokete, awarded NAPA a penalty at the injury time – and which Emmanuel Mayuka scored forcing the match to end 2-2. Gor Mahia players felt aggrieved by the referee’s decision at the last minute as it knocked them out of the competition.
CAF had written to the Football Kenya Federation indicating their intention to launch investigations on the matter.
“The officials of the above-mentioned match (Napsa Stars vs Gor Mahia) have indicated in their report that: After the match Gor Mahia players No. 29 – (Oluoch Boniface) and No. 10 (Muguna Kenneth) attacked us and used abusive language against us.
“Caf has decided to implement the provisions of the Disciplinary Code in terms of article 11 and to open investigation allowing your affiliated players to respond to the reported incident.
“Therefore, the club is required to provide us with its comments within five days namely March 5, by the latest, after which the matter will be admitted to the Caf disciplinary board,” noted CAF in their communication.
in it’s ruling, CAF noted that: “Gor Mahia are instructed to immediately check the cost of the damages incurred by NAPSA Stars and reimburse the cost of damages caused by the players,” the ruling by Caf’s disciplinary board members Raymond Hack, Issa Sama and Ali Dijae, reads in part.
“CAF suspends both players, namely Boniface Oluoch and Kenneth Muguna for their next four Caf inter-club matches. CAF imposes upon each player a financial sanction of $15,000 (Ksh 1.6 million) for their regrettable aggressive behaviour against the referees.”
The ball is now on Gor Mahia’s court, with the club given a chance to appeal the decision if at all it feels aggrieved with the ruling.
The ruling comes at a time when most Kenyan football clubs are grappling with issues of money especially since the pandemic struck in March.