Scars of Hooliganism: Identifying hooligans in big crowd is challenging – Ghana Police

Director of Sports for the Ghana Police Service, ASP Ansah Yabuku, has admitted that pinpointing violent fans in large crowds during football matches remains a major challenge for the security services.

Speaking in Scars of Hooliganism, a JoySports documentary exploring the rising tide of violence in Ghana football, ASP Yabuku said the nature of fan behavior at match venues makes it difficult to single out troublemakers before it’s too late.

“We are concerned,” he said.

“Our culture of fan passion is deeply rooted, but some of that passion becomes violence and those individuals wouldn’t change, especially when it comes to supporting their clubs.”

He explained that although the Police Service continues to deploy officers across match venues, the task of identifying potential hooligans in large, emotionally-charged crowds stretches the resources of security personnel.

“Identifying these violent people in very big crowds poses a challenge for all the security services and especially the stakeholders when it comes to football at our stadia,” he added.

The Scars of Hooliganism documentary sheds light on how unchecked fan violence is forcing players, referees, and supporters to walk away from the game, leaving behind broken dreams and deep trauma.
It airs on JoyNews, Monday, June 23, 2025, all day

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