Asante Kotoko has confirmed the tragic passing of one of its supporters after violent clashes erupted following their Ghana Premier League Matchday 19 encounter against Nsoatreman FC at the Nana Koramansah Park.
The game, which ended in a 1-0 defeat for Kotoko, was overshadowed by heated confrontations both on and off the pitch. Tensions escalated when players from both sides clashed, prompting the referee to issue four red cards. The situation spiralled further out of control after the final whistle, resulting in violent scenes between rival supporters.
In an official statement, Kotoko disclosed that one of its fans sustained fatal injuries during the post-match violence and later succumbed to his wounds at the Sunyani Hospital.
Kotoko strongly condemned the violent events, stating that their team was subjected to hostility from sections of the home supporters from the moment they arrived at the stadium.
The violence escalated further when Kotoko’s Head of Media suffered a serious ear injury after being struck by an object. Additionally, some supporters invaded the pitch, physically assaulting Kotoko goalkeeper Mohammed Camara while pelting him with projectiles.
Reports also indicate that travelling fans and media personnel from Kumasi were attacked during the chaos.
Kotoko has urged the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to launch an immediate investigation into the violence and hold those responsible accountable.
Expressing deep concern about the persistence of hooliganism in Ghanaian football, Kotoko warned that such incidents pose a serious threat to players, officials, media personnel, and supporters.
Apart from the loss of life, Kotoko also reported significant damage to valuable team equipment. Laptops, communication devices used by the technical team, and other essential audio-visual gadgets were destroyed in the mayhem.
The club has pledged its full cooperation with the GFA and called for stricter security measures at league venues to prevent future tragedies.
