The Kazakhstan Football Federation said on Friday that it is considering lifetime bans for players involved in a brawl during a youth championship match.
Teen-agers lashed out at one another with kicks and punches during the soccer match between the Turan and Ekibastuz teams in the southern Kazakh city of Shymkent. The referee issued several red cards after the melée. The match was part of a national championship among teams of football centers and academies, involving players born in 2011.
“Football is a game based on respect, fair competition and the principles of Fair Play. Any acts of aggression and violence, especially by children and adolescents, are considered a gross violation of sports ethics and human values,” the federation said.
The federation said referees’ reports and video recordings have been been submitted to its disciplinary committee and a meeting on the brawl is scheduled for next week.
“All those found guilty will be subject to severe punishment, up to and including a lifetime ban from football,” it said.
