By Chernor Alimamy Kamara
The Women’s Premier League Board (WPLB) has strongly condemned violence perpetuated against women following two recent attacks of female referees in Freetown and Kambia.
A Press release issued by the board on the 19th February, 2024 said it was disappointed and appalled by events in the match in Kambia between Patricia Umu FC and Sierra Leone Police Female on the 18th February, 2024 which it described as unacceptable.
It noted that the Women’s Premier League is about its players, referees, commissioners and coordinators but most importantly it is about the empowerment of women and girls, saying the Board will not condone violence of any kind against women.
It stated that the referees have dedicated themselves to ensure that matches are officiated with professionalism to the satisfaction of the Board and they must be respected and protected from such “vile occurrences.”
“It is important for supporters and club officials to demonstrate a commitment to zero tolerance for violence in football and must collectively commit that violence, harassment, and abuse in women’s football will not be tolerated and cannot continue,” part of the release reads.
The Board reaffirms its commitment to the public that allegations of violence will be taken seriously and will exercise all powers available within its jurisdiction to bring the culprits to justice once investigation is concluded and ensure that “this horrifying situation does not occur again.”
It called on everyone to work towards building an environment where girls and women can thrive without fear of being harassed, assaulted, intimated or violated.
Attacks against referees most especially on female referees have been on the increase in the ongoing Women’s Premier League. Just recently, a referee and other female officials were attacked and sustained serious injuries in the match between F.C Kallon female versus Mogbwemo Queens at the MK 3/10 field at Angola Town in Freetown.
Similar press releases of such were also issued by the WPLB, Sierra Leone Football Association and other football clubs condemning the act.
After the conclusions of an investigation set up by the Board, it ruling stated that videos and pictures evidence tendered captured many people deemed to be supporters of F.C Kallon but it specifically identified Alhaji Mansaray, the Safety and Security Coordinator of the team, Leornard Augiden, welfare Officer and Abdul Hindolo Karim.
.It banned the aforementioned people from taking part in all future matches and from attending them in the area immediately surrounding the fields of play and from all activities to the WPLB for 6 months. It further ordered them to pay a fine of Le 5,000 (five thousand Leones), quoting the WPLB rules and regulations.
The Board ended up ordering all home matches of F.C Kallon to be played behind closed doors, with no fans, save for their team officials in any match for the remainder of the ongoing 2023/2024 W omen’s Premier League season.
The latest incident in Kambia showed the picture of a female referee sitting on the floor looking dejected, who was reported to have been physically assaulted.
Copyright © 2023 Politico (20/02/24)
