MASERU — For the first time in the history of football in Lesotho, two Premier League teams will play in a virtually empty stadium this weekend.
The Premier League management committee has decreed that Rovers and LMPS replay their abandoned match at Roma with virtually no supporters watching.
This comes after the abandonment of the two sides’ original fixture at the same venue on April 18 following a gun shot fired by an unidentified spectator.
The culprit is suspected to be a Rovers fan.
The match was called off in the 89th minute with the two teams level at 1-1.
There was pandemonium after the gun shot as spectators scurried for cover.
Rovers captain Molefi Hlojeng then asked referee Retsebile Ntsane to call off the match saying the players no longer felt safe to continue with the game.
Premier League chairman Tlholo Letete said although the match was almost at the end they had ordered the entire fixture replayed.
He said they had also decided to bar any spectators from attending the replay to ensure there will not be a repeat of the disturbance.
“The game is going to be played without spectators (from both teams),” Letete told the Lesotho Times yesterday.
“We made this ruling after looking at the two teams’ and the referee’s reports on why the game was abandoned in the 89th minute.”
He said they expected Rovers to provide reliable security for the Sunday replay.
“Rovers must provide (effective) security,” he said.
Letete said each team will be allowed a delegation of 35 people, including the players.
The only other people who will be allowed to attend the match are Lesotho Football Association officials and accredited journalists only.
This will be the first time that a domestic football match will be played in an empty stadium.
