Ekiti SWAN to hold anti-hooliganism forum

The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Ekiti Chapter, on Tuesday said it would hold an anti-hooliganism forum for football stakeholders in the state on Oct. 4.

The association’s Chairman, Ayodeji Ogunsakin, who made the disclosure to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ado-Ekiti, said the forum would hold at Dave Hotel hall.

He said the objective was to educate footballers, referees, security agents and especially, for supporters who allegedly always cause riot, abuse and disorganised sports events in the stadium.

“It has become a thing of shame for football fans in Ekiti to be beating, harassing and abusing referees on regular basis, especially when there is a competition at the stadium.

“As sports writers who promote sports, we have decided that such menace should be stopped to enable our grassroots football and other sports to develop.

“That is why we have initiated this forum to have a close interaction with the stakeholders in the state,’’ he said.

Ogunsakin said a resource person from Peace and Conflict Department of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti would enlighten the concerned parties in the sports sector on incessant abuse of match officials.

He also explained that the representatives ‎of the Referees, Police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps and the State Commissioner of Information, Youth and Sports would address some of the critical issues causing hooliganism.

The SWAN chairman appealed to the association’s members to be available for the programme because issues concerning their development would be addressed.

He also appealed to the stakeholders in Ekiti to be present at the forum to gain knowledge on how eradicate hooliganism in subsequent football matches.