Former General Manager of Nsoatreman FC, Eric Alagidede, has called on football authorities to take urgent steps to address the growing problem of hooliganism in the Ghana Premier League by re-evaluating match venues and strengthening security.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show during a discussion on JoyNews’ latest Hotline documentary titled Scars of Hooliganism, which highlights the emotional and physical toll on victims, including players, officials, and fans. Mr Alagidede said many of the stadiums used for league matches are unfit to host top-tier football games.
“If I am asked to make recommendations to the authorities,” he said, “I think first of all, we need to take critical look at the various venues that we play our Premier League games. Some of the venues are not up to standard, it’s not even a secret.”
He questioned the role of the Club Licensing Board in approving venues that clearly pose safety risks to players and spectators alike.
“What exactly are they supposed to do? It is their job to make sure that venues that are licensed for Premier League games… are actually venues that are worthy for those clubs to use. But what do we see? You walk into a venue, the inner perimeter is so vulnerable that people can actually climb and jump onto the main field and cause mayhem.”
Mr Alagidede raised serious concerns about the potential dangers of these poorly equipped stadiums.
“You get into venues… then you realise that in case there is a disaster, lives are going to be lost. So why do we approve such venues?”
Drawing inspiration from international examples, he suggested a centralised system of game centres as practiced in countries like Ethiopia.
“In countries like Ethiopia, the games are being played just across about five or six venues. You don’t necessarily have to play at your home venue. The games are scheduled at game centres,” he explained.
“If Accra, Kumasi, Obuasi, Tamale and probably Cape Coast are the venues that meet the club licensing requirement, let’s find a way and make sure that if a team has to travel that distance, then you have to add up to their cost and make sure you get them to the venue to go and play the game.”
Beyond the issue of venues, Mr Alagidede also criticised the current approach to match-day security, urging club administrators to take more responsibility.
“There is no football administrator who does not know the trouble makers at their venues,” he stated. “Nobody can tell us that you play at Nana Agyeman Badu Park and you don’t know the trouble causers there.”
He stressed that club officials must play an active role in identifying and addressing hooligan behaviour.
“I think the administrators need to accept some level of responsibility and make sure that we will allow the laws to work.”
Summing up his concerns, Mr Alagidede outlined three main recommendations: standardising approved venues, adopting centralised game centres, and improving security arrangements.
“These are my three advice that I will give to the organisers of the league, and I think if we are able to implement these ones, I am sure we should be going somewhere with the issues of hooliganism,” he said.
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