By Isaac Nsiah Foster
March 26, 2025
A 25-year-old Ghanaian football fan has been sentenced to 100 days in prison for invading the pitch during Ghana’s World Cup qualifier against Chad at the Accra Sports Stadium.
The Gbese District Court in Accra, presided over by Her Worship Anna Akosua Appiah Gottfried Anaafi Gyasi (Mrs), handed down the sentence on Monday, March 24, 2025. The convict, Mohammed Huzeinu, was found guilty of unlawfully entering the field of play during the match last Friday.
Presenting the facts, Police Inspector Richard Ackumey, leading the prosecution on behalf of the Republic, called Police Sergeant Dorothy Mawutor Darko, who narrated the incident. According to Sgt. Darko, the complainant, Felex Bewu, a security and safety officer at the Ghana Football Association (GFA), reported the case after Huzeinu breached stadium security.
Huzeinu, an unemployed resident of Darkuman, attended the match as a spectator. However, in the 57th minute, he jumped over the inner perimeter fence, ran onto the pitch—an area restricted to players, officials, and accredited personnel—and grabbed Black Stars forward Antoine Semenyo. The unexpected intrusion disrupted the game until stadium security intervened, apprehended Huzeinu, and handed him over to the police.
The accused was charged with being on premises for unlawful purposes, contrary to Section 155 of the Criminal Offenses Act 29/60, and offensive conduct conducive to a breach of the peace, under Section 207 of the same Act.
Huzeinu pleaded guilty to both charges and was sentenced to 100 days in prison.
In his defense, he expressed regret, stating, “I don’t have anybody. I didn’t know what to do before I realized I was on the pitch because I was very happy for my motherland.”
The ruling serves as a stern warning against pitch invasions, emphasizing the importance of maintaining security and discipline at sporting events.
