Governor’s Cup: Cross River FA Warns Against Hooliganism

The Cross River State Football Association (CRFA) said hooliganism in football matches is gradually killing the beauty of healthy competition in the round leather game.
The state FA chairman, Essien Ayi made this remark in Calabar yesterday at a press briefing to herald the 2025 edition of the Governor’s Cup.
Ayi, a former member of the House of Representatives, urged the relevant stakeholders to proffer solution to the menace that particularly affected the visiting teams.
Speaking on the Governor’s Cup, the state FA boss warned the participating teams and officials in the 2025 edition that acts of hooliganism, indiscipline, and poor officiating would no longer be tolerated.
Ayi said that this year’s edition would involve all the 18 local government areas of the state, while the competition would run from November 15 to December 15.
He said that the final match would take place at the U. J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar, adding that the competition had commenced with a pre-season seminar on November 3.
“The Governor’s Cup has continued to promote unity and grassroots development, with the 2025 edition recording the highest level of participation so far.
“This year’s turnout is unprecedented. All council areas are excited and ready to participate, but we will not tolerate any form of hooliganism or indiscipline,” Ayi said.
He explained that the matches would take place in four centres; Akpabuyo, Ikom, Calabar, and Ogoja, with the final taking place at the state main stadium in Calabar.
He clarified that private football clubs would not feature in the 2025 edition as the tournament was strictly for local government teams to align with other Governor’s Cup standards in the nation.
“All 18 councils will receive branded jerseys bearing the governor’s image and the association’s seal. We are also proposing an increase in the prize money,” he added.
Ayi emphasised that the association would not condone violence, bad officiating, or the use of mercenary players, stressing that erring teams and referees would face strict sanctions.
According to him, this competition unites our state; so any team, whose supporters misbehave, will be banned because we want fair play which will enable the best team to win.
Also speaking, Lawrence Etta, the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to Gov. Bassey Otu on Sports, commended the FA for sustaining the Governor’s Cup as a grassroots talent hub.
Etta urged local chairmen to invest in their teams, pay allowances promptly, and see sports as a tool for youth empowerment, not a personal gain.
He added that the government planned to introduce more grassroots tournaments, including one for private clubs and veterans, to expand sporting opportunities in the state.
Etta further encouraged the players to focus on development, discipline, and teamwork, saying that football should inspire unity and pride among Cross River youths.