Former Black Stars defender Sam ‘Foyoo’ Johnson has blamed players for the hooliganism that led to the death of Asante Kotoko supporter Francis Yaw Frimpong alias ‘Nana Pooley’ at Nsoatre.
The incident occurred during Nsoatreman FC’s 1-0 victory over Asante Kotoko in the Ghana Premier League on Sunday, 2 February 2025, at the Nana Koromansah Park.
Chaos erupted at the venue, resulting in the stabbing of the well-known Kotoko supporter.
Speaking on this week’s of Prime Take with Muftawu Nabila Abdulai which airs on Saturday, February, 22 at 7:30 PM on JoyNews, Sam Johnson attributed the escalation of violence to the players, saying their involvement in fights contributed to the tragic event.
“It’s very sad,” he said.
“Hooliganism persists because the punishment is not enough. We are all Ghanaians, and when something happens, we need to talk about it and find a way to resolve it.
“But it is very sad that someone can go to watch football and not return home. That person has a family. Why should anyone lose their life watching football? If we do not take action, things could get out of hand.”
Johnson also expressed concern over the increasing ease with which people use weapons during football-related altercations.
“Nowadays, it is easy for someone to stab or even shoot another person. In the past, if someone pulled out a knife, everyone saw that person as a threat. But now, people use knives freely, and nobody seems to care,” he added.
He further questioned why individuals bring dangerous objects to stadiums.
“How can you go to a stadium with a sharp object? Now you have killed someone—so what? Are you satisfied? Does it make you happy that you have taken a life?” he asked.
Johnson emphasised that players have a responsibility to prevent such incidents, stating that their involvement in fights contributes to violence in the stands, warning that repeated incidents could drive fans away.
“Our domestic league is on the verge of collapse—that is exactly where we are heading. I was telling someone that the punishment for perpetrators of hooliganism is not enough.”
He criticised the growing indiscipline in Ghanaian football, pointing out that fights among players often set a dangerous precedent for supporters.
“Do you know what upset me the most about what happened in Nsoatre? The players.
“Even with two eyes, some players are struggling to achieve their goals, so imagine losing one eye. How will you succeed? If someone punches you in the eye, you might lose your sight forever. Maybe God has given you a talent to take care of your family, but instead of focusing on football, you are on the pitch fighting, jumping, kicking, and throwing objects.
“If the players had not behaved that way, the incident would not have escalated. People have not paid attention to that aspect of the incident.
“If opposing fans are fighting, players can step in and calm them down. But if the players themselves are fighting, who will control the fans?
“No matter how angry the fans are, they have players they admire. If those players go and talk to them, they will listen and calm down,” he said.
Since the incident, players and officials of both clubs have been charges by the Ghana FA for their role in the chaos.
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