Record Kenyan champions Gor Mahia can breathe a sigh of relief after the Sports Disputes Tribunal suspended the move by the Football Kenya Federation Caretaker Committee to award Vihiga Bullets maximum points from the last month’s abandoned clash and directive to play the next two home matches behind closed doors.
The Committee ruled on Thursday that Gor had forfeited the three points in the abandoned match following the skirmishes that were witnessed at halftime. Gor were leasing 1-0 courtesy of George Odhiambo’s strike heading to the breather but fights between the security men and a section of the fans saw Vihiga players decline to take to the pitch for the second half citing the safety of their players.
The government-installed committee found Gor who were the host on wrong and moved to gift the league debutants the three points that were welcome considering their bid to beat the wrath of the axe.
Further, the committee ordered that KOgalo would play their next two home matches at the Moi Stadium, Kisumu without the backing of the green army.
Before the committee that has been under pressure to give its verdict on the match pitting Ulinzi Stars and Sofapaka that failed to kick off in January pronounced itself on the status of the Gor vs Bullets match, the former had been dealt a blow as Sports Kenya had barred them from staging their home matches at Kasarani and Nyayo Stadium.
Gor were blocked from playing home matches in the country’s two biggest facilities following the destruction reported at Kasarani in the Bullets duel.
The Cup holders are understood to have rushed to the tribunal to challenge the committee’s ruling and hardly a day, they have won round one of the fight in the corridors of justice.
The tribunal suspended the committee’s decision pending the hearing and the determination of the case a development which means that Gor can play admit fans in their home matches.
“That pending the hearing and determination of this application interpartes before this honorable tribunal, an order be and is hereby issued suspending the implementation of the sanctions in the letter dated 10th March 2020 against the petitioner,” read part of the ruling.