DOL board calls for arrest of hooligans in B.A. – R.T.U clash

The Division One League Board has called on the Ghana Football Association and the security agencies in the Brong Ahafo Region to fish out hooligans who charged on match officials at the Sunyani Coronation Park during the game between B.A. United and R.T.U.

The center referee Maxwell Hanson and his other officials were beaten to the pulp by irate fans of the home team after awarding a penalty to R.T.U.

The reverse angle saw angry RTU supporters also throwing stones and other objects on to the field after the referee was forced to rescind the penalty decision.

The game was forced to an abrupt end amidst gun shots from the military and the burning of wheel barrows of residents believed to be from Tamale.

The embarrassing atmosphere has generated international attention leading to several condemnations from various institutions.

The DOL Board has since condemned the violence and the aggressive beating of the match officials and has called on the Ghana Football Association to ensure perpetrators of the act are brought to book.

In a statement released by the board on Tuesday, the acts of hooliganism were condemned unreservedly, reiterating their commitment to see to a violence-free league.

“The DOL Board condemns this act of misconduct in no uncertain terms, and wishes to assure the football fraternity and the general public of its determination to collaborate with all the relevant organs of the Ghana Football Association and the state security agencies to ensure that the perpetrators of this dastardly attack are identified and brought to book,” the statement read.

The board also called on centers that have recorded no acts of violence to maintain their level of civility and propagate sportsmanship.

The Executive Committee of the Ghana Football Association will be holding and emergency meeting on Wednesday to take a decision on the acts of violence in the league so far.