Soccer News of Monday, 28 July 2008

Source: GNA

Libyan players on the rampage after encounter with Kotoko

Kumasi, July 28, GNA - Players of Al-Ittihad of Libya on Sunday went on the rampage after their CAF Confederation Cup match against Kumasi Asante Kotoko as they destroyed property worth several thousands of Ghana cedis at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, Kumasi.

Items destroyed included a flat screen television set, a socket and basin tab which were all in the dressing room of the team.

Mr Fleming Sefas, Administrator of the stadium, who briefed the GNA Sports in Kumasi on Monday, said the Al-Ittihad players destroyed the items when they went to the dressing room after the match.

He said the action of the players might have been necessitated by the behaviour of the match officials from Tunisia whom they alleged treated them unfairly during the match, a situation they attributed to their loss of 1-3 to the 'Porcupine Warriors'.

Mr Sefas said in view of the situation, officials of the National Sports Council (NSC), owners of the stadium drew the attention of the Match Commissioner who included the development in his report.

He said the NSC also drew the attention of the officials of the Libyan Embassy in Ghana who were at the stadium to watch the match and that the Council had an official written agreement with the Embassy in respect of the conduct of the Al-Ittihad players and officials. The Administrator indicated that a separate report was also being forwarded to CAF through the Ghana Football Association (GFA) on the situation and hoped CAF would take the necessary action against the Libyan side.