On Saturday, Bugesera FC faced Rayon Sports in a high-stakes matchup for the 28th day of the Rwandan Premier League. The game, however, was abruptly stopped in the 52nd minute, with Bugesera FC leading 2-0, after chaos erupted. This came following dissatisfaction from Rayon Sports fans over officiating decisions, leading them to throw stones onto the pitch.
Addressing the incident, Rwanda's Minister of Sports, Nelly Mukazayire, took to her X (formerly Twitter) account to condemn the unrest and reiterated the significance of maintaining order in sports. Her statement emphasized that violence and disorderly conduct at sporting events are strictly prohibited and punishable by law.
She said: "We have seen reports regarding the match between Rayon Sports and Bugesera FC, particularly concerning the unrest that occurred. We would like to remind football fans and all Rwandans that disorderly conduct or violence at sporting events is prohibited and punishable by law."
The Minister also highlighted the need for grievances regarding game management to follow the proper legal procedures. She stressed the importance of FERWAFA (Rwanda Football Federation) and the Rwanda Premier League in addressing such concerns. Additionally, Mukazayire assured that the Ministry of Sports would coordinate with other relevant stakeholders to ensure appropriate follow-up.
She further stated: "Any issues related to how the match was conducted and grievances teams may have should be resolved through the legal channels provided, namely FERWAFA and the Rwanda Premier League. As the Ministry of Sports, we will also engage with other institutions to ensure follow-up."
As of now, the Rwanda Premier League, responsible for organizing the competition, has yet to decide whether the match will be resumed or if penalties will be imposed on any team involved.
