Kurt E.S Okraku to chair meeting with Premier League CEOs amid death of devoted Kotoko fan Pooley

Published on: 05 February 2025
Kurt E.S Okraku to chair meeting with Premier League CEOs amid death of devoted Kotoko fan Pooley
Kurt Okraku

The President of the Ghana Football Association, Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku will chair a meeting with the Chief Executives and top officials of Premier League Clubs on Thursday following the gruesome murder of a football fan in the powerful West African nation. 

The Ghanaian football leader will lead the high-profile discussion with his colleagues at the Headquarters of the Ghana Football Association on Thursday February 6, 2025.

The emergency meeting has been necessitated after a devoted Asante Kotoko fan, Francis Yaw Frimpong, popularly known as Pooley, was stabbed to death following an argument with an unidentified man.

The die-hard fan was cruelly stabbed to death  by an unidentified assailant during a temperamental match between giants Asante Kotoko and Nsoatreman at Nsoatre. Nsoatreman beat the Porcupine Warriors 1-0.

The unfortunate incident has raised concerns about football-related violence and safety at matches in Ghana, prompting the GFA to take swift action to address the situation.

The meeting is expected to focus on strengthening security measures at football venues, promoting a culture of non-violence among supporters, and reviewing disciplinary protocols to prevent future incidents of this nature.

The engagement between the GFA president and club executives will be crucial in finding a solution to enhance the safety of players, officials, and fans during football games.

The GFA is collaborating with law enforcement and other stakeholders to ensure the perpetrators of the crime are brought to justice and to prevent such tragedies in the future.

This incident has sparked discussions on the need for improved crowd management and stricter enforcement of safety regulations in Ghanaian football.

Football violence has long been a concern in Ghana. In 2001, a riot in Accra led to over 120 deaths. Sunday’s match was also marred by crowd trouble, with fans throwing objects onto the pitch and storming the field to attack players and officials.

Asante Kotoko’s goalkeeper, Mohammed Camara, was reportedly assaulted by “pitch invaders” during the chaos.

In response to the tragedy, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has banned Nsoatreman from using their home ground, Nana Koramansah Park, and postponed the next round of league matches. The GFA stated, “Such acts have no place in Ghanaian football,” vowing to take decisive action.

Authorities have launched an investigation into Pooley’s death, while calls grow for stricter security at match venues. Despite previous sanctions, including fines and stadium bans, violence remains a persistent issue in Ghanaian football, raising concerns over the effectiveness of current measures.

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website.
Learn more