Hearts remember May 9

Accra, May 9, GNA - Accra Hearts of Oak has ask the football fraternity to demonstrate good sporting spirit and reject violence as the nation remembers the May 9, Accra Sports Stadium disaster in which 127 soccer fans were killed.

A statement issued and signed by Mr Thomas Okine, Chief Executive Officer of the club said the country must resolve "that never again should we allow the recurrence of that shameful and tragic incident at our stadia or anywhere".


It said, people who bring the game into disrepute must be condemned while honour those who defend the image of football. "On this score we still rekindle our deepest sympathies to the relatives of the victims and further wish that the souls of all those who perished rest in perfect peace", the statement said.


Police fired teargas into rioting fans at the "Ade Coker" Stands after they had ripped off the plastic seats and threw them unto the tartan tracks in protest of an alleged bias officiating by the referee. Hearts won the ill-tempered match 2-1 in top-liner of the Premier League on a rainy Wednesday evening.

The statement reminded all of FIFA's fair play, which enjoins players to play with sporting spirit, and do away with all forms of violence, which are threat to football.


Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education and Sports has urged Ghanaians to continue to pray for the repose of the souls of those who lost their, lives four years ago during the disaster.


It called on fans to control their emotions at the on-going GT Premier League and desist from any acts of violence, hooliganism and unlawful acts, which mar the beautiful, the game. 09 May 05