Shabana’s Otieno banned for a year for head butting ref

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has suspended Shabana FC’s Samuel Otieno for a year for head-butting a match official during last weekend’s National Super League clash against Modern Coast Rangers in Mombasa.

The game that ended 1-1 was stopped for some minutes in the second half after Shabana supporters protested against what they deemed as poor officiating.

“In the report the referee stated that in the 83rd minute, Shabana FC player Samuel Otieno head-butted the first assistant and was sent off for violent conduct.

“As such we have written to the club informing them that Otieno has been suspended for a year for his actions and is barred from participating in any FKF affiliated club or competition,” part of a statement from FKF CEO, Robert Muthomi read on Thursday.

This comes in the wake of the federation entering into agreement with suspended former NSL club KCB FC keeper George Opiyo that will see the player sensitize football stakeholders on the dangers of unsporting behaviour.

The custodian was also suspended for one year for assaulting a match official in their National Super League encounter against Zoo Kericho earlier this month.

Shabana are rock-bottom of the NSL after winning their first point in eight outings at the Mbaraki Stadium.

Report by Edward Mokuah