A boardroom verdict in the abandoned game at Kakindu on Tuesday handed Police FC another season in the top division despite losing to Lweza on the final day of the season.
JMC Hippos was in the lead at Kakindu when the referee awarded Cops a penalty in the 65th minute that didn’t go well with the home players who were joined by the fans to protest the decision.
The long awaited and highly anticipated verdict that has seen all clubs in the relegation fight plead with the secretariat to announce verdict before the ball is kicked in the final league games came out a couple of hours after the league finale.
According to the verdict, JMC Hippos loses by three goals to Police by forfeiture for causing abandonment of the game.
That puts the Cops on 33 points, one more than Lweza and the Oranje join Sadolin Paints and JMC Hippos as relegated sides from the top division.
Below is the FULL VERDICT signed by League CEO, Bernard Bainamani:
RE: ABANDONED AUPL MATCH 227 JMC HIPPOS Vs POLICE FC.
Reference is made to the Referee’s report of the above mentioned match that was played on Tuesday 16th May 2017 at Kakindu Stadium-Jinja and witness reports by persons of authority of the events that transpired at the said match which culminated into the abandonment of the match in the 61st Minute.
According to the reports, JMC Hippos FC players protested the penalty awarded to Police FC and as the scuffle ensued, the commander of the police that had been deployed asked them to board the police pick up and leave, this gave advantage to the fans to enter the field of play and the penalty could not be taken without security.
The match Assessor intervened and asked the police commander why he was withdrawing police but was told they had gone to arm themselves.
Shortly after, the police returned and the match officials prepared to resume play but JMC Hippos FC players refused to continue with play-a position which was confirmed by the team captain.
The match officials stayed on the field of play and waited for 40 minutes before abandoning the match at 6:30pm.
Accordingly and in line with FUFA Competitions Rules, JMC Hippos FC loses the match by forfeiture.
Hence, Police FC is awarded 3 points and 3 goals. In addition, JMC Hippos FC is fined 1000 UAs (1,000,000/=) payable to UPL Secretariat.
Thank you. In the name of the game.
It’s been tough season for the Cops and had it not been a boardroom decision, they would be down by now.
