MONROVIA, Montserrado – Liberia has suffered pitch invasions and overcrowding in its stadiums for the past three years. Consequently, it has been punished by the Confederation of African Football three times.
In 2012, Liberia was fined US$5,000 by CAF after a fan suddenly ran the pitch to celebrate Anthony Laffor’s goal against Uganda. The second offense, with a fine of US$22,000, came during a CAF qualifying match when fans started throwing objects on the pitch due to Liberia’s 2-0 defeat to Senegal on Sept. 8, 2013. Most recently, Liberia was fined US$23,000 for a pitch invasion after Lone Star’s 1-0 victory over Tunisia on September 5.
To avoid further punishment, the Liberia Football Association and the Liberia National Police, in a joint press conference held at the headquarters of the Liberia National Police on Nov. 4, revealed the primary security measures for Liberia’s crucial match against the Elephants of Côte d’Ivoire.
The Liberia Football Association was represented by Executive Committee Member, Ansu Dolley while the Director of Operations at the Liberia National Police, Paul Mulbah, represented the LNP.
Mulbah called on all citizens, sports lovers, and foreigners within the borders of Liberia to see the match as a significant national event and to remain peaceful during and after the game. He said that the LNP would put in place high security and preventive methods to avoid any form of misconduct and overcrowding of the stadium.
“Due to the importance of this crucial FIFA qualifying match, the Liberia National Police is pleased to announce that the Ivorian high power delegation, approximately 50, will arrive in Monrovia November 11, 2015, by a special flight from Abidjan. The delegation will be received by officials of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Liberia Football Association and the Liberia National Police,” Mulbah told reporters.
He added that no vehicle would be allowed to use portions of Lynch Street, UN Drive, Clay Street, Center and Redemption Streets leading to the Antoinette Tubman Stadium and any fans must display a valid ticket or identification card before using these routes.
Map of streets around Antoinette Tubman Stadium.
The president of the Sports Writer Association of Liberia, Roland Mulbah, commended sports journalists for adhering to the new mandate and have been able to regularize their status in covering local and international matches.
In 2010, the Liberia Football Association and the Sports Writer Association of Liberia signed a Memorandum of Understanding, allowing the sports writers to receive 35 passes to cover international matches. Both the LFA and SWAL later reviewed the MOU earlier this year, and it has been agreed upon that only SWAL members with a valid identification card will be allowed to cover all activities of the LFA.
Liberia will host Côte D’Ivoire on Nov. 13, in the second preliminary round of the Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium and will be in search of their first victory over the Elephants.
Featured photo by T. Kla Wesley
