Arsenal and Manchester United are yet to play each other this season, but a clash between two rival fans of the clubs resulted in an unfortunate and completely avoidable death last weekend.
Manchester United fan Benjamin Okello died in Uganda after getting into a fight with an Arsenal supporter, while the duo watched Sunday’s 2-2 draw between Arsenal and Liverpool at the Kyobugombe Trading Centre in the Kaharo Sub County of the Kabale District, located in the western region of the country.
According to Ugandan newspaper The Daily Monitor, things kicked off when Okello celebrated Liverpool’s 81st minute equaliser through Mo Salah – which is a bit odd, because you’d think a Manchester United fan would be rooting for any other team except Liverpool, even Arsenal.
As Okello taunted the unnamed Arsenal fan, the banter turned physical when he decided to throw popcorn at his head. At that point, the Arsenal fan snapped.
‘I received information [on Monday] morning that two men fought on Sunday night [at] Kyobugombe Trading Centre,’ Mr Edmond Tumwesigye said, who is the Kaharo Sub County LCIII Chairperson.
‘One of them was rushed to Bukinda Health Centre for treatment and was referred to Rugarama, where he died from [injuries].
‘A scuffle started in a video hall at Kyobugombe Trading Centre, where they were watching a football match between Arsenal and Liverpool.
‘When Liverpool scored an equaliser in 81st minute, the Manchester United fan, now the deceased, started jubilating and this angered the Arsenal fan.
‘He (Man Utd fan, pictured below) threw popcorn at the Arsenal fan, sparking an argument between the two.
‘After the game, the Arsenal fan picked [up] a stick and hit the Manchester United fan, causing him to fall down.’
District Police Commander Mr Joseph Bakaleke added: ‘We got information indicating that the two boys who were supporters of two different teams had a scuffle and in so doing, one assaulted the other.
‘It is alleged that when [the assaulted] one was taken to the hospital later alone, he met his death.
‘We have tried to encourage the relatives of the deceased to be calm down, as we continue to hunt for the other one who is alleged to have participated in the fight, to explain what exactly happened, as well as getting information from those who were present to aid the investigations in the matter.’
Very sad indeed. You have to think these two lads knew each other previously and maybe had some bad blood between them already, football-related or not, which boiled over during the Arsenal/Liverpool game.
I mean, I can appreciate how annoying it must be to have a rival fan (who doesn’t even support the team you’re playing against) troll you over conceding a late equaliser and then throwing popcorn at your head, but killing them over it? Bit much really.
The Arsenal fan is apparently ‘on the run’ but I’m sure they’ll track him down soon enough. Here’s hoping justice is done for the sake of Benjamin Okello’s friends and family.
For the 20-year-old law student facing jail for racially abusing Bukayo Saka online, click HERE.
