By Hassan Osman Kargbo
Fourah Bay Community has in a press release dated 14 September 2024 called the supporters or Community People of Bambara Tong as violence People.
According to the release, the Fourah Bay Community Football Team said they strongly condemns the reprehensible acts of violence perpetrated by the supporters of Bambara Town during the recent match under the COFA League.
It stated that the actions of Bambara Tong Community included inflicting harm on innocent individuals, manhandling the referee, and causing wanton destruction of valuable property, are not only unacceptable but also a direct affront to the spirit of sportsmanship and the values of football.
Fourah Bay claimed that they had received credible information about potential plans by Bambara Town supporters to incite violence and cause damage. In response to that they took all reasonable and necessary steps to prevent such violence, including reporting the matter to the police. Despite these proactive measures, the threats materialized, resulting in chaos and harm.
The release further noted that, that kind of barbaric behaviour has no place in football or in our community. It undermines the integrity of the game and poses a serious threat to the safety of players, officials, and fans alike.
The noted that The Fourah Bay Community Football Team firmly believes that football should be a platform for unity, respect, and fair play, not a battleground for violence and intimidation. And they called on the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLAFA), the Western Area Football Association (WAFA), and the Central One Football Association (COFA) to take immediate and decisive action against Bambara Town and all individuals involved in these violent acts.