The 99th Mashemeji Derby at Nyayo was not short of drama. It had passion, rivalry, colour, and tension everything that makes Kenyan football breathe. But when the final whistle blew, the loudest talking point was not brilliance on the pitch. It was the officiating.
Let’s be blunt: AFC Leopards should not apologise.
In a match where the margin at the top of the table is razor-thin, every decision matters. And on Sunday, too many critical calls tilted one way. Clear bookable fouls went unpunished. Soft fouls were punished swiftly. A glaring handball was ignored. These are not emotional reactions; they are observable moments that shaped the contest.
When a club raises concerns about officiating, that is not indiscipline. It is accountability.
Interestingly, when Gor Mahia previously questioned refereeing after matches against Bandari and Tusker, it was termed “concern.” It was accepted as part of the game’s discourse. So why is it rebellion when AFC Leopards does the same? Why is one club allowed to question standards while another is threatened with boycotts unless an apology is issued???
That double standard is the real problem.
Threatening to boycott by referees unless a club president apologises sets a dangerous precedent. Referees are custodians of fairness, not untouchable deities immune from scrutiny. Respect must be mutual. Authority without accountability erodes trust and trust is the currency in any sporting discipline.
This is not about incitement, It is about integrity.
If officiating was above reproach, there would be nothing to discuss. But when patterns of questionable decisions emerge in high-stakes fixtures, clubs have a right , even a duty to demand transparency. Silence in the face of perceived injustice is not professionalism; it is surrender.
FKF must step in not to muzzle critics but to audit and strengthen officiating standards. Implement clearer review mechanisms. Communicate decisions. Sanction poor performance where necessary. That is how credibility is built.
AFC Leopards’ president spoke out of frustration shared by thousands of fans. That frustration did not arise from thin air. It arose from moments on the pitch that demanded explanation.
Apologies should follow wrongdoing NOT dissent.
Football thrives on competition, not coercion. If referees are confident in their performance, they should welcome review, not threaten absence. If institutions are strong, they do not fear scrutiny.
Ingwe should now focus on the remaining fixtures. Let the team respond on the pitch. Let the administration pursue structural reforms through the proper channels. But an apology for demanding fairness? That would send the wrong message.
Kenyan football does not need silence.
It needs standards.
It needs courage.
It needs fairness.
No apology. Fix the refereeing first….
Filed by Yalula-Pa, an ardent Nairobi-based Ingwe fan.
