Heart of Lions coach, Bashir Hayford, has shed light on his dramatic protest during Saturday’s Ghana Premier League match against Bechem United. The game was halted for 20 minutes after Hayford stormed onto the pitch and sat down in the center circle, chair in tow.
Hayford’s outburst stemmed from a torrent of abuse he allegedly endured from the stands. “They [fans] were pouring urine on me, they were spitting on me behind the bench,” Hayford said via Nhyira FM. “They charged on the referee that our goal was offside, but it was because of the urine poured on me that’s why I went to the pitch with a chair.”
The veteran coach, leading a relegation-threatened Lions team, was evidently frustrated by what he perceived as biased officiating.
Reports also suggest he might have been pelted with water or stones in addition to the urine. Hayford’s dramatic act of protest quickly went viral on social media.
Despite the interruption, Hayford eventually left the field, allowing the match to resume.
However, Bechem United, despite being reduced to 10 men, held on for a 1-1 draw. A potential win for Lions would have seen them escape the relegation zone, but the draw leaves them precariously placed, just one spot above the drop zone.