The Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) has awarded East End Lions FC a place in the semi-finals of the 2026 Orange FA Cup after crowd violence and disorder forced the abandonment of their controversial quarter-final clash against Star Sport Academy.
In a disciplinary ruling issued on Wednesday, May 13, the local football federation confirmed that the match, played at its Academy Field on May 3, was abandoned in the 86th minute following violent scenes that included a pitch invasion and clashes involving individuals linked to both clubs.
After reviewing match officials’ reports, witness accounts and video evidence, the FA Cup Disciplinary Committee ruled that Star Sport Academy forfeited the fixture, allowing the 2-1 scoreline in favour of East End Lions to stand.
The decision sends East End Lions into the semi-finals while triggering a series of sanctions against officials and players of both clubs over their roles in the disturbances.
A fine of NLe 5,000 equals USD 218, has been levied on Star Sport Academy, while their Chief Executive Officer, Samba Kanu, received a six-match suspension plus a fine of NLe 8,000 equals USD 348, for allegedly inciting the unrest. Players Abdul Budu Kamara and Abu Bakarr A. Kamara have each been handed three-match bans and fined NLe 2,000, which equals USD 87, for violent conduct during the incident.
The disciplinary committee also sanctioned East End Lions FC, imposing a fine of NLe 5,000 equals USD 218, on the club for failing to control supporters found to have participated in the disorder.
The local football federation further warned clubs, officials and supporters that future incidents of misconduct could attract stiffer punishments, including possible exclusion from competitions, and stressed that all fines must be settled before the next official fixtures of the respective clubs.
While the incident has reignited concerns over crowd management and matchday security in Sierra Leonean football as domestic competitions continue to gain wider regional and international attention, and the ruling underlines the FA’s increasingly hardline approach against violence and indiscipline in the game, they should, however, double up on their violence prevention mechanisms on match days without delay.
However, with the semi-final dates yet to be confirmed, East End Lions are expected to face FC Kallon while Abacha City takes on Mighty Blackpool in the other last-four encounter as the race for the 2026 Sierra Leone Orange FA Cup intensifies.
