The Ministry of Sports and the National Sports Authority have slapped an immediate ban on all community and school football competitions across the Western Area, including Freetown, following a sharp rise in youth violence and hooliganism linked to local matches that has claimed lives and caused widespread property damage.
The directive, contained in a press release issued today and signed by Minister of Sports Augusta James-Teima, comes after a high-level stakeholders’ meeting convened yesterday at the Office of National Security by National Security Coordinator Abdulai Caulker. The meeting focused on growing unrest tied to football activities that is disrupting public peace.
Authorities specifically highlighted chaos surrounding competitions run by the Central One Football Association (COFA). Rival community supporters have repeatedly turned matches into battlegrounds.
One recent flashpoint involved unrest after a match at Parade Field that spilled onto Kroo Town Road, contributing to clashes that left at least one person dead and caused damage estimated in the millions of leones. Just days earlier, on 12 September, a woman was reportedly killed by an alleged stray bullet during violent confrontations between residents of Kroo Town Road and Kossoh Town that erupted after a community football match at the same Parade Field. The clashes involved stone-throwing, attacks on property including a SALHOC office, and forced police intervention.
COFA itself had already suspended its ongoing competition in response, with the Western Area Football Association (WAFA) also calling for a halt pending investigations.
“Football and sports are generally regarded as unifying activities, but some communities and youths are using the beautiful game to cause security unrest and disrupt the normal daily activities of innocent citizens,” the Ministry stated.
Officials strongly condemned the violence, stressing they will not allow football to endanger national peace and security.
Key points of the ban:
– All organised community and school football competitions in the Western Area are suspended with immediate effect until further notice.
– Organisers who defy the order face legal penalties.
– Security agencies have been tasked with strict enforcement.
– A technical committee of stakeholders will review existing regulations and guidelines before any decision to lift the restriction is made.
Casual recreational kick-abouts among friends remain permitted. The ban does not affect official professional leagues, Premier League matches, or national-team competitions. It is limited to the Western Area only.
This is not the first time community football in Freetown has been linked to serious trouble. COFA’s inter-community league at Parade Field has long faced criticism for pitch invasions, stone-throwing, abandoned games, and clashes between rival supporters from areas such as Mountain City, Portuguese Town, and others. Similar security concerns have also surfaced in other local fixtures and even some higher-level cup matches in recent years.
The Ministry urged all Sierra Leoneans, especially the youth, to put peace, unity, and national security first.
“We cannot continue to allow a few people to turn our national pastime into a source of fear and destruction,” the statement emphasised.
Residents in affected communities are advised to cooperate fully with security forces as the ban takes effect. Further updates are expected once the technical committee completes its review.