Football drama reigned supreme as Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards were sanctioned by Football Kenya Federation (FKF) for failing to honor their Betking Premier League match scheduled for Saturday 31st July 2021 at the Thika Stadium. More to that, AFC Leopards being the home team has been fined Ksh 6 Million, while Gor Mahia, the away team, was fined Ksh 4 Million. The fine was actually equated to the match organizational costs incurred by FKF.
The FKF National Executive Committee also provisionally suspended Gor Mahia and AFC Leopard’s chairmen Mr. Ambrose Rachier and Dan Shikanda. In the meantime, both clubs have been deducted three points, in line with article 3.1.6 of the Rules and Regulations Governing Kenyan Football, which states: 3.1.6. In the event that a team or both teams in a scheduled fixture fails to turn up or turn(s) up for the match but refuse(s) to play, either team or both shall be docked three (3) points and two (2) goals from those already accumulated or those to be accumulated. Additional sanctions may be imposed on the team(s).
The two Kenyan giants decided to skip the game at Thika Stadium as they demanded the federation give them their hard earned money from grants and also prize money for playing in the final of the FKF Shield Cup. AFC Leopards Chairman, Mr Shikanda was quite unshaken with the sanctions, “Let him take all the points, not even the three points, we don’t need the points and by the time we made the decision of not playing in the derby, it was clear we did not have interest in the points, we don’t need the points,”he said.
“We stopped competing for the points the moment he declared Tusker as Kenya's representative to the Caf Champions League, what else is there for us to compete for? He can take all the points that we have accrued so far, if he so wishes, we don’t care." Shikanda added.
Mwendwa said he was disappointed with the way the two clubs acted over the weekend and will face further sanctions as per the Fifa rules and regulations. “They can appeal the decision by following the right channel. We have followed the law and we don’t want anything of this sort to happen on Tuesday,” said the football administrator. On the Prize money owed, Mwendwa said they had promised to pay the two clubs their dues by August 5.