The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has fined the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Sh6.45 million (approximately USD 50,000) for multiple safety and security breaches during the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifier match between Kenya and Morocco, held at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.
In a statement from the CAF Disciplinary Board, FKF was found guilty of violating several CAF safety and security regulations. The breaches included failures in crowd control and stadium perimeter security, leading to overcrowding, unauthorized access, and chaotic scenes. The incident raised serious concerns about stadium security and the overall safety of spectators and officials during the match.
CAF warned that continued failures to comply with its safety and security standards could result in Kenya’s national team matches being relocated to alternative venues outside the country. FKF has been advised to implement urgent corrective measures such as deploying adequate security personnel, enforcing strict road closures on match days, and improving crowd and access control within and around the stadium.
This fine follows earlier sanctions from CAF relating to crowd control failures during previous matches at Kasarani. Among the consequences following the recent events, CAF has also limited stadium attendance to 60% for upcoming games, allowing only electronic ticket holders entry as a mitigation measure to improve crowd management.
The Football Kenya Federation faces significant financial and reputational repercussions due to these sanctions while preparing to host future continental football tournaments. CAF has urged Kenyan authorities and FKF to collaborate closely in ensuring compliance with all safety protocols to prevent the risk of losing hosting privileges for national team matches.
This disciplinary action highlights the importance of adherence to internationally mandated safety standards for football events, especially in the context of major continental championships.
The situation remains under close CAF supervision with ongoing discussions between the Confederation, the Kenyan government, and local organizers to resolve the security gaps at Kasarani Stadium ahead of future fixtures.
This development serves as a stern reminder of the critical need for robust crowd management and security measures to safeguard fans, players, and officials during high-profile football matches in Kenya.
