CHAN 2024: Full list of prohibited items as government seeks to avoid security breaches
- The CHAN Local Organising Committee has released a full list of items banned from stadiums
- CAF recently fined and warned Kenya after fans breached security before Kenya faced DR Congo at Kasarani Stadium
- Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania have hosted the showpiece without any major hiccups
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Kenya's CHAN Local Organising Committee (LOC) has released a complete list of items that are prohibited inside the stadium during CHAN 2024, which comes after CAF fined FKF.
Source: Getty Images
CHAN 2024 kicked off last weekend, with Tanzania hosting the opening tournament before beating Burkina Faso 2-0 at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam, while Kenya defeated DR Congo on Sunday, August 3.
One notable aspect of the tournament is the absence of vuvuzelas, whistles, drums, and other items typically seen in African stadiums.
The new rules being implemented by the LOCs have sparked strong reactions from fans who feel they are too stringent.
What are prohibited items in CHAN 2024?
The Kenyan LOC CHAN and Safety and Security Department have released a list of items banned from stadiums.
Last weekend, some fans overpowered security forces at Kasarani, raising a serious security concern.
CAF, the football governing body in Africa, punished Kenya with a fine and a warning. Kenya, alongside neighbours Uganda and Tanzania, will host the 2027 AFCON; therefore, CHAN 2024 serves as an audition.
Dangerous items, including firearms, knives, sharp and blunt objects, explosives, and helmets, are strictly prohibited from the stadium.
Fireworks, smoke bombs, flares, and hazardous materials will not be allowed inside the stadium. Hazardous substances, such as chemicals, radioactive materials, and irritant gas canisters, have also been banned.
Spray paints, flammable materials, aerosol cans, and items made from breakable materials, such as glass and metal, are strictly prohibited.
Bottles, ladders, benches, suitcases, bags, backpacks, powdery substances, and pets are not allowed. Only assistance dogs are authorised.
Illegal drugs, signal-blocking devices, vuvuzelas, megaphones, loudspeakers, food brought from outside and political/offensive banners are banned.
Why is Kenya's CHAN 2024 LOC banned these items?
Vuvuzelas were the main talking point before the tournament. They first gained prominence during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, but FIFA banned them after that edition.
Top leagues across the world also followed suit and banned the item from their stadiums. FIFA stated that they can drown out the emotions of fans.
In the past year, Kenya has been rocked by deadly political protests. The display of offensive and political messages has been banned as a result. Moreover, political banners are strictly prohibited in major leagues around the world.
As Kenya hosts a major tournament for the first time, the LOC is leaving no stone unturned to ensure everything runs smoothly, even if it means banning items that would typically be allowed elsewhere.
How has CHAN 2024 fared in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania?
The three east African nations are hosting an almost incident-free tournament nearly a week after it started.
So far, Kenya and Tanzania have received fines for breaching several CAF rules.
The three nations will face challenges as the tournament progresses, and it remains to be seen if it will be successful when it concludes on August 30.
Kenyan government responds to CAF
In a related report, TUKO.co.ke reported that the Kenyan government responded after CAF fined FKF.
The fine came after fans overpowered security forces as they tried to enter Kasarani.
The Interior Ministry urged Kenyans to follow the guidelines given by CAF in regards to conduct during the tournament to protect the country's reputation.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
