Districts cautioned on breach and abusive fans

Football districts will be entirely responsible for the behavior of their fans during the Extra Premier League (EPL) matches this season.

Fiji Football Association (Fiji FA) chief executive officer (CEO) Mohammed Yusuf made the comment during their second council meeting at Vatuwaqa in Suva yesterday.

This is after they received complaints from match officials of verbal abuse from fans during and post EPL matches.

“There is a specific case where a fan was drunk and started swearing at the referees,” Yusuf said.

“The board has decided that under the national league regulations, the host is responsible for the behavior of their fans.”

Yusuf revealed that fans will be banned by host districts if they fail to be on their best behavior.

“The second option, the board can take away the hosting rights of the districts, then you’ll have to travel away for matches,” he said.

“An abusive fan needs to be banned for at three matches when their home team plays.”

Yusuf said all districts must ensure that the behavior of the fans is the responsibility of the host district.

Fiji FA president Rajesh Patel highlighted the need to protect the referees in football.

National regulations breach

Yusuf said hosts districts have no right to inform match officials to delay EPL matches.

This is after Lautoka football association breached the national league regulations by delaying the match for 15 minutes.

Yusuf added that Lautoka will appear before the disciplinary committee.

“The host district president has no right to tell the referee that the match will start half an hour later,” he said.

“That enabled the district association to register and play three players five minutes before kickoff and brought up a problem because of immigration issues.”

Yusuf added that the three foreign players had VISA issues and were deemed to be in the country illegally.

“This case is an indication process, so the board had decided to charge and for them (Lautoka) to come and explain to the Independent Discipline Committee (IDC),” he said.

“Their (IDC) decision will be final.”

Yusuf issued a demand that all football districts adhere to the national regulations set by Fiji FA.

“Nobody has the power to override the regulations in one instant to benefit your own team. The only person who can defer the match timing is the competition manager