By Hou Akot Hou
Two police officers have been hurt on Wednesday in a local football match dispute that erupted after players and the referees got angry and fought over a win by one of the teams.
Speaking to this outlet, Col. Atak Wol Kiir, who is the Udhum payam police inspector said two police officers were hurt in the brawl as they were attempting to contain the fight that occurred between Maker-Amuk Football club and Pan-rang football club.
“What merely happened is that two officers of mine were injured on Wednesday in a local match that was being played and Maker-Amuk lost 4 goals to 1 to Pan-rang team and they started attacking the referees with their players and when the police officers tried to quell the tension, they hurt them” Atak said
Wol underscored the suspects who attacked the referees and resulted in hurting the officers would be arraigned in court in order to curtail such incidents from happening in the area.
“Now we are looking for the masterminds who hurt the police officers and they are still remaining at large” He noted.
He warned local youth against taking laws into their hands when such games are being played, urging people to exercise restraint and conflict resolution mechanisms when problems rage on.
It is not uncommon for football players and fans to fight over a loose in a match but several football tournaments across South Sudan, mostly organized to cement peace among communities, had so far become a source of violence.
In December 2022, Yambio Local Football Association penalized and suspended Al Salam FC player, Simon James for two years after he assaulted a referee in the capital of Western Equatoria State.
On January 19, 2023, the arbitration committee of the Juba Local Football Association banned Al-Zubair Bakhit, a second division league player, for attacking an assistant referee during a match.
In South Sudan, two conflicts erupted since independence in 2011 and tensions are rising, increasing the importance of “Peace and Social Cohesion” in the country.
Sports competition could be the right effort to support peacebuilding and social coexistence among communities in the country.