The police spokesperson Andrew Felix Kaweesi has put the Federation of Uganda Football Association management in the spotlight for printing more tickets than Mandela National stadium, Namboole could hold on Sunday as Uganda played Comoros in the 2017 Afcon qualifiers.
Addressing journalists on Monday at police headquarters, AIGP Kaweesi said they were perturbed when many people stormed the entrance of the stadium with genuine tickets to watch the match yet it was full to capacity.
“There was a scuffle at the gate as we sent some of them away for security reasons. They had tickets but we could not allow them into the stadium,” Kaweesi told a news conference.
“The stadium has a capacity of 45000 people but in assumption, over 50,000 people were in the stadium yet more were still coming in .We had to prevent anything dangerous that could happen if we had allowed them in.”
Kaweesi said the scuffle at the entrance between the fans and security personnel led to the burning of 2 police motorcycles whereas 6 other people were also injured as police tried to stop them from entering the stadium.
He noted that even the emergency corridors inside the stadium were full of people as others stood on top of their colleagues.
“We have on earlier occasions tried speaking to FUFA who told us they had printed a few tickets only to realize more sales are ongoing on match day. We know they (FUFA) can’t accept to this but in future we are to devise scientific means to solve this.”
The police spokesperson said that in future, FUFA would be tasked to refund the supporters for the tickets bought or face legal action from those supporters with genuine tickets.
He added they spoke to FUFA officials who told police some people might have manipulated their own tickets.
“We regret any inconvenience caused to fans but we could not allow a catastrophe happen as we watched. We know they will not accept but tickets were more than the stadium capacity.”
“I spoke to FUFA President who said the number of tickets printed was equal to the number of supporters unless some people manipulated. Those who have tickets should take them to FUFA house for a refund,”he urged.
Uganda beat Comoros to break the 38 year jinx without qualifying for the Afcon finals.