January 19 – The Court of Arbitration for Sport CAS has lifted a five-year ban imposed on Senegalese club US Ouakam. In July 2017 eight people were killed by a stampede at the game US Ouakam – Stade de Mbour during Senegal’s cup final.
CAS rendered a clear decision, stating that US Ouakam, a club based in the Senegalese capital Dakar, were not solely responsible for July’s disaster at the Demba Diop stadium. At the end of the game clashes broke out between rival fans and a wall collapsed. Police fired tear gas at clashing supporters who were throwing projectiles. In the panic, a crush ensued. Local and international media reported eight people lost their lives, but a CAS statement talks of ten people having passed away.
CAS also ruled that Ouakam can play in the top flight rather than suffer relegation. The club must however for the rest of the season play their matches behind closed doors. “Cas has established that US Ouakam cannot be held solely responsible for the tragic events,” sport’s highest legal body said in a statement.
The Dakar-based club has also been obliged to forfeit the game but the initial fine of $18,500 that US Ouakam faced has been reduced to just $950. The punishment had been handed out by the Senegalese Football Federation FSF. The governing body ruled that US Ouakam was “exclusively responsible” for the deaths and banned the club for a total of seven years. In September 2017, That punishment was reduced to five years. This week CAS overruled the FSF to rule in favour of US Ouakam.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1734955973labto1734955973ofdlr1734955973owedi1734955973sni@i1734955973tnuk.1734955973ardni1734955973mas1734955973