NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 30 – Nairobi City Stars CEO Patrick Korir says they have launched a complaint with Football Kenya Federation (FKF) over a stoppage time penalty awarded to Bandari FC in Sunday’s Kenya Premier League match at Mbaraki Sports Club in Mombasa.
Both teams were locked at 1-1 when the centre referee pointed to the spot in the 95th minute, following a goalmouth melee, which William Wadri stepped up to covert for the dockers.
“I’ve called the federation just to report the same. I think it would be wise to have these clips going round to let people know that it is not worth to travel all the way from Nairobi to Mombasa just to have the result stolen in the manner we have seen here today,” Korir said.
Harambee Stars winger Abdallah Hassan had put Bandari in the lead in the 38th minute only for veteran striker Ezekiel Odera to restore parity seven minutes later with a penalty.
Bandari vs Nairobi City Stars
Added time- 7 minutes. Bandari awarded a contentious penalty after 101 minutes.
But something interesting happened, the ref seems to have a conversion with a Bandari player seconds before awarding him a penalty.#FKFPL pic.twitter.com/es4ml2Kakk— Ole Teya (@Kevin_teya) January 29, 2023
Wadri’s winner takes Bandari to 11th position with 14 points from 12 games as Simba wa Nairobi languish in 14th position with 11 points from 13 matches – seven above bottom-placed Mathare United.
Korir bemoaned the circumstances of the loss, City Stars’ eighth of the season, pointing out that match-fixing is becoming a rampant vice in Kenyan football.
“Losing is a not a problem but the manner in which this loss has come, leaves a lot to be desired. And I am categorical as the Nairobi City Stars CEO that games are being fixed live. The referee for today needs to be investigated because it was very clear that someone had to win this game,” he said.
The match is the latest to be riddled with claims of match-fixing and dubious decisions involving referees as well as players since the resumption of league action in the country.
Just over two weeks ago, the country’s football governing body, Football Kenya Federation (FKF), banned 14 former and current footballers as well as two coaches for engaging in matchfixing.
In 2020, world football governing body, Fifa, banned for three Kakamega Homeboyz players – Festus Omukoto, Festus Okiring and Moses Chikati – for their involvement in the vice.
