The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Uganda Premier League (UPL) body has warned clubs that participate in the league over violating the Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs) in the remaining matches.
The development comes after President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni okayed sports to remain operating even after closing some schools and other activities in a bid to control the spread of the new COVID-19 wave.
President Museveni on Sunday said sporting activities can continue with no fans in the stadiums. This came after the football governing body had suspended all fans in the stadiums for the remaining games.
However, several of Uganda’s football stadiums do not have perimeter walls which make it possible for fans to gather outside the boundaries of the stadiums and watch the games without necessarily entering the stadium.
Bernard Bainamani, CEO Uganda Premier league has said all clubs are obligated to ensure that there are no fans crowding in or near the stadium because any crowding near the stadium will make the concerned team face charges by the disciplinary body of FUFA.
Bainamani added that if a club cannot handle the case of hosting from their home grounds, the club will be directed to host its games from elsewhere.
He also said that the UPL secretariat will meet all the necessary bodies to ensure that teams can travel to play games without restriction from district borders. This comes after the President had suspended traveling across district borders.
In March this year, the Football Federation (FUFA) banned KCCA , Busoga FC, Kyetume FC and Onduparaka FC for violating Article 10 of the FUFA Covid-19 regulations after they allowed fans to enter stadiums without wearing face masks. Bainamani said they have deployed their staff to supervise all the games in different stadiums.
Each of the 16 teams in the Star Times Uganda Premier League is left with only four games to complete the league season. Express FC lead the log with 58 points, while URA FC are second with 57 points and Vipers SC in third place with 56 points.
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