Promotion chasing Murang’a Seal were handed a blow in their quest for top tier football after the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Caretaker Committee docked them three points for abandoning their match against Zoo FC on grounds that the latter did not avail an ambulance for the match in good time. The match in question was to take place on Sunday 9 January at the Kericho Green Stadium with Zoo FC being the home team but they failed to provide a well-equipped ambulance as Murang’a opted to sit out of the match.A standard ambulance arrived around 20 minutes after the game was originally scheduled to kick-off but Murang’a still declined to take to the field leading to the game being forfeited.In a letter dated Monday 14 March sent to Murang’a Seal by the Committee’s head of secretariat, Linda Oguttu confirmed the three points deduction as by the FKF handbook.“Murang’a Seal FC forfeits the result of the match on a 2-0 basis in accordance with Rule 3.3.3 of the Rules and Regulations Governing Kenyan Football for contravening Rule 3.2.2 which states, “The referee shall decide if a match cannot start or if a match which has started must be abandoned. This decision is made after consultation with the Match Commissioner. A club which refuses or fails to respect the instructions of the referee to start or resume play or in any other way abandons a match shall forfeit the match.”Also, Murang’a Seal has been deducted 3 points and 2 goals per Rule 3.1.6 which states, “In the event that a team or both teams in a scheduled fixture fails to turn up or turn(s) up for the match but refuse(s) to play, either team or both shall be docked three (3) points and two (2) goals from those already accumulated or those to be accumulated. Additional sanctions may be imposed on the team(s),” read the letter in part.This comes after Murang’a Seal chairman Robert Macharia who doubles up as the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Murang’a Branch chairman wrote a scathing letter to FKF Caretaker Committee chairman Aaron Ringera over management of football at the branch level.Murang’a Seal released a statement after the point deduction protesting their innocence in the whole saga and lamented at losing six points and four goals after forfeiting the clash against Zoo FC.Run! Ringera run! Scathing FKF Branch chairman warns retired judge amid deepening football impasse“We went away to play Zoo FC on 9th January 2022. They did not produce an ambulance within 30 minutes after kick-off in accordance with the league’s protocol. The FKF Caretaker Committee has now accused us and passed judgement against her without giving us a right to be heard and awarded Zoo FC 3 points and 2 goals. To add insult to injury they have deducted us 3 points and 2 goals implying that we have unjustly been docked 6 points and 4 goals. We live to fight another day because we worship a living God,” read the statement.
