BFA sets up probe team into Moleps stampede

Staff Writer | Wednesday September 28, 2011 00:00

 

The BFA National Executive Committee (NEC) says the committee of inquiry will investigate the incident and determine what happened. The committee will comprise five members and will include persons with expertise in the law, the insurance industry and the private security sector. The commissioners' names will only be announced once the appointment is finalised. The committee will also recommend action to be taken as well as make recommendations on how incidents of a similar nature could be avoided in the future. It is expected to submit a report on its findings and recommendations to the BFA within 45 days from the date of appointment.

A statement from the BFA says that NEC and Premier League Management Committee recently met to discuss the incident and both agreed that the violence was caused by the stampede that occurred at the gates to the stadium, which resulted in injury of a number of supporters. The two parties also agreed the violence involved the exchange of missiles between supporters of the two clubs, which happened while the match was in progress.

'Both the BFA NEC and Premier League Committee agreed that the two incidents were serious and warranted to be investigated,' acting chief executive officer (CEO), Sonnyboy Sethibe, said. The two parties also agreed that the missile-throwing incident would be handled through the Premier League Disciplinary Committee (DC) in terms of the existing rules dealing with violence. Sethibe also revealed that the incident has already been referred to the Premier League Disciplinary Committee (DC). The stampede incident was then left for BFA NEC to address.

The committee of inquiry is expected to investigate the circumstances that led to the stampede and determine if arrangements for the match were adequate in all respects including safety, security, crowd control, medical service, police service and event management. It will also determine if clubs fully understand their responsibilities concerning the organisation of matches and whether clubs are doing enough to ensure that adequate arrangements are made for matches. The committee will also determine if the stampede was a result of any failure by anyone to do the needful to ensure spectator-safety and security and recommend appropriate remedial action.

It will also determine whether other factors which should have been considered when arranging the match contributed to the stampede;  as well as advice on what needs to be done to avoid risks associated with the organisation and staging of matches to offset repeat similar incidents.