A fan of English football club Arsenal, who was celebrating the team’s victory over Manchester United, has allegedly been shot dead by a security guard in the East African Country of Uganda.
Another fan was injured as the guard opened fire on a large crowd of jubilant supporters at a restaurant in Lukaya town in central Uganda, about 100km (62 miles) from the capital Kampala, towards the end of the match, which Arsenal won 2-0.
According to reports, the building’s manager was angered by the noise that the jubilant supporters were making and asked the guard to intervene. However, the fans did not heed a warning to quiet down.
Witnesses claimed that the owner switched off the power in the restaurant, angering the fans, who responded by making even more noise. It was then that the guard allegedly opened fire, firing several shots.
The victim, identified as 30-year-old John Ssenyonga, died at the scene. Another long-term Arsenal fan, Lawrence Mugejera, was taken to hospital for treatment. Both the guard and the manager of the building are on the run after the incident, with the police looking for them.
The regional police spokesman, Twaha Kasirye, said that they had recovered a gun at the scene.
“We condemn the incident and we ask anyone with information that can help the police to bring the suspect to book to speak up,” he said. He also urged fans to control their excitement.
Tensions and tragic violence arising from the outcome of football matches, especially between English clubs, are not uncommon in the country where the English Premier League is followed closely.
In October, an Arsenal fan stabbed a Manchester United fan after the two argued over the results over the results of a clash between Arsenal and Liverpool.
In January last year, a youth councillor died from stab wounds in Kampala after intervening in a fight after Arsenal lost to Manchester City. Just a week before that, an Arsenal fan had been bludgeoned to death in Adjumani, in the West Nile district.
Goals from Jurrien Timber and William Saliba saw the Gunners Outshine the Red Devils at the Emirates Stadium during the Mid-week fixture.
Set pieces did the damage yet again, with Jurrien Timber turning in a Declan Rice delivery eight minutes after half-time to register his first goal for the club, and then on 73 minutes his fellow defender Saliba saw the ball cannon in off him in fortuitous circumstances to double the lead.
Arsenal have now won four consecutive league games against Manchester United for the first time in their history. They have also won each of their last four home league games against the Red Devils, their longest such run since April 1978 when they won seven in a row.
Coach Ruben Amorim suffered his first league defeat since December 2023, with the result ending a 34-game unbeaten run for the Portuguese coach in league competition (W31 D3). It was also his inaugural Manchester United defeat.
Manchester United conceded two goals from corners in a Premier League match for the first time since January 2014 when the red devils conceded two against Chelsea, both scored by Samuel Eto’o.
There were just five shots attempted in the first half of the match (Arsenal 3, Man Utd 2); the fewest in the opening half of a Premier League match this season.
Manchester United’s first attempt came in the 42nd minute – their longest wait for a shot in a league match this term. Arsenal and Manchester United will meet once again in the FA Cup to square it out.
