Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Sports has placed a ban on all community and school football competitions in the Western Area with immediate effect, following what the ministry describes as a surge in youth violence that has left people dead and property destroyed.
The ban, announced in a press release dated 17 September 2026 and signed by the Honourable Minister of Sports, Augusta James-Teima, covers the entire Western Area, including Freetown, and will remain in place until further notice, according to the ministry.
According to the ministry, the decision followed a high-level stakeholders’ meeting convened on Wednesday, 11 September by National Security Coordinator Abdulai Caulker at the Office of the National Security. The ministry stated that the meeting was called to address growing hooliganism among football supporters, particularly in competitions organised by the Central One Football Association (COFA).
The ministry said recent clashes between rival community supporters escalated into serious violence, resulting in loss of life and the destruction of properties worth millions of Leones.
“The situation escalated and resulted in the loss of life and destruction of properties worth millions of Leones,” the statement said.
The Ministry of Sports and the National Sports Authority (NSA) said football, though generally regarded as a unifying force, was being used by some communities and youths to cause insecurity and disrupt the daily lives of innocent citizens.
The ministry condemned the violence in the strongest terms and warned that football would not be allowed to become a threat to national peace and security.
Under the directive, according to the ministry:
· All community and school football competitions in the Western Area are banned until further notice.
· Organisers are strictly warned to comply with the notice.
· Security agencies will enforce the directive across the Western Area, and defaulters will face the full penalty of the law.
· A Technical Committee of stakeholders has been set up to review and develop regulations and guidelines to monitor football activities before the ban is lifted.
The ministry clarified that the ban does not extend to recreational football among friends.
It called on the public to comply fully and to prioritise peace, unity, and the security of the nation.
