Three individuals were arrested after a pitch invasion and the throwing of missiles during Saturday’s match between Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns.
This comes after Amakhosi were thrashed 4-0 by The Brazilians this past Saturday in the quarter-finals of the Carling Knockout Cup. In a statement, Chiefs revealed that they were working with law enforcement to identify more perpetrators.
“Kaizer Chiefs would like to sincerely apologise to all our stakeholders, sponsors, the Premier Soccer League (PSL), South African Football Association (SAFA), and our loyal supporters for the disappointing incidents witnessed on Saturday during the Carling Knockout Cup quarterfinal match against Mamelodi Sundowns. While it was a beautiful day for football, it was unfortunately marred by behaviour that has no place in our beloved game,” the statement read.
Kaizer Chiefs issue statement after fans behaviour
“The invasion of the pitch and the throwing of missiles onto the field are completely unacceptable. Despite thorough preparations for the sold-out match, we observed issues arising early on, with some supporters already under the influence of alcohol before the game, leading to unwanted incidents. This highlights a pressing societal issue that the football industry and our communities must address collectively.”
Kaizer Chiefs have shown a resurgence under new coach Nasreddine Nabi this season. Out of the seven matches, four have been sold out, with others attracting near-capacity crowds.
The club said they were working closely with the league including law enforcement agencies, to identify the individuals responsible for these actions on Saturday.
“We are actively collaborating with law enforcement agencies to ensure that all individuals involved in the pitch invasion and related disturbances are identified and appropriately dealt with under the law.”
The club said three fans were arrested and appeared in court on Monday morning.
“We support the legal process and trust that justice is served. The Club will also make recommendations that fans who behave badly are banned from attending football matches in South Africa,” said Kaizer Chiefs on Tuesday.
The Soweto giants said they were focusing on identifying any further culprits and preventing similar incidents in the future.
Should Chiefs play their next game behind closed doors?
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