BY BOCKARIE ALIEU (232news.com)
The Sierra Leone Premier League continued on Monday with a reschedule match between Real Republicans versus Mighty Blackpool at the Angola field, Godrich in Freetown.
The above match was first schedule to take place at Parade field on the 9th July 2023 but was postponed to another date due to tight fixtures for Blackpool.
The above match was now rescheduled to take place on Monday 10th July 2023 at Angola field. Before this match Blackpool’s match against FC Johansen at Lungi was called off due to heavy rains and waterlogged pitch.
This led the premier league board to push the Republicans match to Monday and the rescheduled match against Johansen to take place on Thursday at the Trade Center field in Freetown.
In the match against Republicans on Monday the first half ended with a goalless draw. Late in the second half the match came to an abrupt end with a report stating that Blackpool fans invaded the pitch claiming that the central referee was bias.
At filed there wasn’t enough security around which led the central referee to run to the dressing room for his life.
Before the match, Blackpool were in 4th position with 54 and with 2 matches at hand. Blackpool’s next match will be against FC Johansen on Thursday at the Angola field.
Their aim was to win the two matches at hand and get equal points with Lions in second position to let them be in the race for the second position.
But if Blackpool fans are found guilty in the investigation the team will forfeit the 3 points and they will be fine for misconduct.
And if they find them guilty, they will go out of the race for the second position except if Lions or FC Kallon drop points in their remaining matches.
Republicans were with 35 points, 5 points ahead of the relegation zone in 31 matches played. But if the committee rule in favor of them they will now get 38 points which will secure their stay in the premier league.
Republicans next match will be against FC Kallon on the 15th July 2023 at the Angola field. They will play their last match away in Makeni against Wusum Stars on the 22nd July 2023.
In this case football stakeholders have appealed to the premier league board to do things that can stop riot during and after the matches. They went on that the course of riot in the game is most time due to bad officiating. This they said leads to the attack on match officials during and after matches. To stop or minimize the frequent attack on match officials they said match venues need to have perimeter fence. Beside they said they want to see the committee in charge punishing default referees also so that the others will take caution in officiating matches.
