The match that was bringing together the Al-Ahed team against its counterpart, Al-Ansar, was stopped at the Fouad Shehab Complex stadium in JouniehAl-Ansar fans objected to the arrest of one of the fans by the security forces after he entered the stadium, 8 minutes before the end of the match.
The army deployed in the vicinity of the stadium, following the mobile clashes that moved from inside the stadium to the outside, amid political and sectarian chants by the fans of both teams.
Commenting on the problems, the mayor of Jounieh, Joan Hobeish, confirmed in a statement that “we will not close the Fouad Chehab Complex in front of the matches, and the chairs are suitable, but what is not suitable is the souls, and I hold the responsibility for the clubs that did not fulfill their duty to calm the fans.”
Minister of Youth and Sports in the caretaker government, George Kallas, called the mayor of Jounieh, Sheikh Joan Hobeish, praising his patriotic stance after the riots that affected President Fouad Shehab’s sports complex in Jounieh during the Al-Ansar and Al-Ahed match at the end of the Lebanese Football League.
Kallas told Hobeish his appreciation for the patriotic spirit with which he dealt with the resulting smashing, breaking and damage, and his insistence that the stadium continue to host matches and that the city of Jounieh embrace football families from all over Lebanon.
At the same time, Kallas regretted that some of the fans departed from the sportsmanship and resorted to violence and rioting as a means of expression, calling on the Lebanese Football Association to deal according to the laws and with the necessary wisdom with what happened.
In the context, Representative Simon Abi Ramia considered, in a statement to him on social media, that “what is happening in President Fouad Chehab’s stadium in Jounieh of acts of violence confirms the correctness of what the Parliamentary Youth and Sports Committee did last week in sounding the alarm and requesting the establishment of a coordination committee between Unions and security services to prevent such actions. He stressed that “it is required to arrest the rioters and take the maximum penalties.”
Representative Nada Al-Bustani said, commenting on the matter: “The final of the football championship between Al-Ahed and Al-Ansar turned some of the fans into a riot and cracking match, and the victim was the Fouad Shehab complex.” And she stressed that “sport is morals and sportsmanship as much as it is competition and victory, and this scene is not allowed to happen. The Football Association must impose penalties against everyone who sabotages.”
This match had also been stopped earlier, after Al-Ansar fans objected to the referee’s decision, due to the cancellation of the equalizing goal in the 65th minute by Nader Matar, and a foul was counted in favor of the team.
It is noteworthy that the result of this match indicated that Al-Ahed team advanced by 3-2, as part of the final round of the top six of the Lebanese Football Championship.