Tripoli, November 12, 2023 (Al-Anbaa Libya) – In response to the Libyan Football Federation’s decision to add a text to the sanctions list, punishing any club whose fans issue racist, political or religious chants or raise offensive slogans, Khamis Adam Mohamed, First Vice President of the Federation, issued a statement. Explaining his position on the decision, he said:
I received through the media and social media the issuance of Resolution No. (87) of 2023, which includes adding a text to the sanctions list issued by the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Libyan Football Association. Here I explain the background of the decision and my professional position on it based on my capacity on the Board of Directors.
First, the decision is illegal because it was not issued based on a meeting of the Federation’s Board of Directors, according to the statute of the Libyan Federation, as decisions are issued based on an actual meeting of the Board of Directors, and decisions that supplement the regulations and laws are either issued by the General Assembly meeting or the Board of Directors meeting.
Secondly, the Chairman of the Board of Directors contacted me and presented a statement addressed to the management of Al-Ahly Benghazi Club regarding the slogans and expressions raised by the fans in their last match in the second round against the Al-Taawoun team in the Premier League, where they raised slogans against the Al-Ittihad Board of Directors and expressed the language of the fans and their dissatisfaction with the Board of Directors. I informed the president of the federation that I did not agree with the statement or the threat of sanctions regarding that. My own conviction requires accepting criticism, resentment, and dissatisfaction, and dealing with public affairs, especially football, requires those in charge to accept all criticism and popular expression, especially since the slogans did not contain personal, family, tribal, or regional insults.
The sports public can raise slogans against the players, officials and coaches of the team they support in the event of deterioration in the results. So what about the sports public who is dissatisfied with the results of the national teams and the deterioration in their continental and international rankings? In fact, the matter has reached the point of retreating from the previous arrangement and levels, and dealing with the public requires wisdom and reason, not escalation and bickering.
The issue of raising slogans, expressing dissatisfaction, and sending messages of protest and dissatisfaction cannot be calibrated or placed in an evaluation matrix.
Thirdly, Article No. (1) of the decision stated, “With obscene, racist, political, or religious language, or by raising offensive slogans,” the wording in this manner is broad and illegal, and accepts different, contradictory, and capricious interpretations in interpretation and application.
Also, the statement “or political or religious” here was referred to by the president of the federation to the interaction of the sporting public with political events, perhaps the most recent of which was the case of the Zionist aggression against the Gaza Strip, which was strong even in countries that support the Zionist entity. Does the state of solidarity of the Libyan public fall under this? Do youth songs and chants in the stands that sing of homeland, hope and development fall under this article? .
It would have been better for the punishment to be directed at deterring racist, regional, and tribal chants and slogans that insult the religion and the Noble Messenger, may God bless him and grant him peace, slogans of sedition and calls for wars, and slogans that affect national unity… etc).
I also reject the chants and slogans against the Football Association in the context of any text regarding this. The public expresses its thanks and satisfaction to the institutions in the event of success and achieving the best results, and the same public will express dissatisfaction and express its condemnation in the event of failure and failure to achieve results, regardless of the circumstances and capabilities. .
Fourth: – The Chairman of the Board of Directors was addressed more than once to control and organize the public’s attendance at the matches, as well as coordination with the competent authorities related to the issue, but until today the matter is proceeding randomly, and accusations of negligence are being thrown at the partners in the matter in the absence of a national partnership in this matter. .
We suggested to him, for example, that the audience should attend for the hosting team to determine responsibility, and in order to prevent clashes between fans of competing teams, and also to determine the number allowed to attend according to the capacity of each stadium.
The public does not attend matches of a special nature, matches in which two of the four teams are very popular, but there is no life for those who are called.
Finally, the decision in this manner will either be inapplicable, or there will be a deviation in the application and a multiplicity of interpretations and application of the legal text.
In conclusion, I repeat my categorical and complete rejection of the decision and disavow it, and any decision that is not issued in accordance with legal procedures and competencies.
Football is funded from the public treasury from the people’s money, so it should be a source of joy and entertainment for the people.
In conclusion, I record my appreciation and respect for the fan groups and associations that were at the peak of responsibility and patriotism and raised true and sincere religious slogans, and I renew my call to the sports fans to continue reconciliation, unity and progress, reject differences and division, and display the patriotic and sporting spirit.
The Libyan Football Association issued a decision to add a text to the sanctions list, punishing any club whose fans issue racist, political or religious chants or raise offensive slogans in any way. The referee stops the match for 15 minutes, and if the chants do not stop, he declares the match over. In favor of the opposing team with a score of (2-0).
The text allows the club whose fans insult the Football Association or persons in any way to be punished with a fine of (3,000) dinars. If the act is repeated, it will rise to (6,000) dinars. The next match will be held without the audience present, and if the fans cause a delay in the start of the match. Or suspended in the same season, the fine will be doubled, and two matches will be moved away from the home stadium if the act is repeated to (9,000) dinars, and 3 matches will be transferred outside the home stadium without the presence of an audience. (Libyan News – Tripoli)
