01/05/2026
Sari FC Press Release – On the Disciplinary Committee Verdict
Sari FC acknowledges receipt of the ruling delivered by the Tolon District Football Association’s Disciplinary Committee regarding our fixture against Tolon Jagbo FC.
While we respect the structures of football governance, we find the decision to annul the match and dismiss both protests deeply unfortunate and inconsistent with the facts and the laws of the game.
The Committee’s report, while consolidating both protests, failed to address the most critical issue: the violent conduct of Tolon Jagbo FC supporters who stoned our players during active play. This act endangered the safety of our athletes and officials, yet the referee’s match report and the Committee’s findings omitted this reality, reducing the matter to “conflicting accounts.” Such omission undermines the very essence of player protection enshrined in football regulations.
The referee’s own report records that play was halted in the second half and that our coach refused to restart because he feared for the safety of his players. This is a direct acknowledgment that safety concerns were real and immediate. The match commissioner’s notes also confirm the stoppage and discussions with our coach about security. However, the reality is undeniable: no security was provided when requested. The claim that security was “offered” is inconsistent with what transpired on the field and ignores the fact that our players remained exposed to danger.
Equally troubling is the protest filed by Tolon Jagbo FC, which ignored the real issue of violence and instead sought to portray Sari FC as abandoning the match without cause. Their narrative disregards the fact that our request for adequate security was never met, and that our refusal to continue under threat was a legitimate and lawful response.
The laws of football are clear:
• FIFA Disciplinary Code, Article 16 (Order and Security at Matches): “Clubs are responsible for the conduct of their supporters and must ensure order and security before, during and after matches.”
• FIFA Disciplinary Code, Article 18 (Forfeiting Matches): “A team that refuses to play or to continue playing a match without valid reason shall forfeit the match.”
• GFA Regulations, Article 33(1)(b): “Where a club or its supporters initiate acts responsible for the abrupt end of a match, that club shall forfeit the match and the opposing club shall be awarded three points and three goals.”
• GFA Regulations, Article 33(1)(e): “A club that fields an unqualified team official shall lose the match and suffer a deduction of three points.”
These provisions leave no ambiguity. Tolon Jagbo FC supporters initiated violence, Tolon Jagbo FC failed in their duty to provide security, and Tolon Jagbo FC fielded an unqualified official. By the letter of the law, the match should have been awarded to Sari FC, with sanctions applied against Tolon Jagbo FC.
To dismiss these facts as inconclusive is to ignore the very principles of fairness and safety that football is built upon. The verdict does not reflect the reality of what transpired on the field, nor does it uphold the standards of justice expected in our sport.
Sari FC has, since its inception, remained committed to discipline, respect, and professionalism. We have never initiated violence, misconduct, or indiscipline. We honour the rules of FIFA, GFA, NRFA, and TDFA, and we will continue to stand firm in defending the integrity of the game.
This verdict may have been delivered, but the truth remains clear: our players were attacked, our safety was compromised, and the laws of football were not applied as they should have been. We call on all stakeholders to reflect on this unfortunate ruling and to recognize the urgent need to protect players, officials, and the integrity of the competition.
Sari FC – Simul Unum Sumus. Together we are one.
