SC Villa fans turn rowdy in Lugazi

Apr 11, 2012

THE unruly fans were protesting a penalty that was awarded when Joogos’ Lawrence Kasadha committed a foul on Moses Feni

By Norman Katende in Lugazi

Bell Uganda Cup

URA 3 SC Villa 1

(Match abandoned after 71 minutes)

A Vision Group journalist Diego Nsubuga was hit on the head by a tear gas canister as Police and UPDF tried to disperse rowdy SC Villa fans who interrupted a Bell Uganda Cup game between their side and URA FC at Lugazi stadium yesterday.

The match was conscequently abandoned after 71 minutes when the Villa bench claimed they could not continue due to the after effects of the teargas. The referee and URA, who were at the time leading 3-1, had insisted that they go on with the match.

Villa manager Peter Nsaba handed in a petition to officials to climax an encounter that was free flowing until some Villa fans started throwing stones at the referees.

The unruly fans were protesting a penalty that was awarded when Joogos’ Lawrence Kasadha committed a foul on Moses Feni.

Goalkeeper Allan Owiny stepped up to score URA’s third goal after Robert Ssentongo and Feni had earlier scored for the taxmen.

Kasadha had scored Villa’s lone goal.

The game was abandonned after 71 minutes after irate SC Villa fans hurled stones onto the pitch

It took time for officials to calm the fans. But as referee Fred Mufta restarted the match, the unruly fans resumed their stone-throwing act at players and officials, forcing security to fire rubber and live bullets and teargas canisters that left the whole stadium in chaos for about 30 minutes.

The chaos left Nsubuga injured, URA assistant coach Sadiq Wassa and Red Pepper journalist Emmanuel Ndugga were also injured.

“It is abandoned. One side cannot continue due to health reasons,” explained Mufta as he packed his bags.

URA coach Alex Isabirye said they will wait for the organising committee to make a decisioin.

“Whatever decision is taken, we will abide,” he said.

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