The University Football League (UFL) disciplinary committee has ruled that Makerere University will be suspended from the competition for the next five years if they involve themselves again in any fighting during the competition.
The inaugural UFL winners have just returned to the competition since 2018; their actual suspension was for two years, but unfortunately had to be prolonged for two more years during the challenging ‘COVID-19 period’ in which football and other sports activities in the country were generally suspended.
Just a few games after their return, with intentions of clinching their second title, Makerere still have a chance, but have technically been ruled out of the tournament after being docked sic of their seven points accumulated in their group before the competition reaching the knockout stages.
On April 12, Makerere made their grand return to the UFL with a very important 1-0 home win against YMCA. And it is again against YMCA, a few weeks after in the return leg away from home that the Makerere fans felt they couldn’t accept to lose to ‘high school kids’.
During the YMCA vs Makerere encounter at Buwambo on May 19, the match was halted and not completed due to fans’ interruptions immediately after YMCA scored the second goal to lead 2-1.
Trouble immediately started after YMCA’s Jon Ndugu doubled the lead for the hosts who had been behind by two goals to nothing by the 20th minute, Owemugisha Bahinguzi had opened the scoring for Makerere.
Benon Kigenyi then equalized four minutes after, and the fans’ sharp verbal exchanges escalated. When Ndugu separated the two sides result with only five minutes to play for in the first half, all hell broke loose. All the police could do was limit the damage, and nothing much as players and fans from both sides were injured.
The UFL disciplinary committee, after their investigations have held that day’s visitors accountable, and ruled that Makerere loses the said match to YMCA by forfeiture (3-0) and pay a UGX one million fine.
Makerere have also been docked six points and six goals, but if the most recent ruling catches up with them, and they’re discontinue, it will imply that they will have to start with negative six points and negative six goals when they return to the UFL in 2027, unless otherwise.
However, according to the UFL still, Makerere may appeal the ruling within 48 hours.
