Police call for
Liberia ban
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By Ledgerhood Rennie
BBC Sport, Monrovia
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Liberia's police
chief Clarence Massaquoi wants
internationals suspended
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Liberia's police chief Clarence
Chris Massaquoi wants to suspend international football
matches in Liberia.
His call comes after at least two people lost their lives
in the chaos in Monrovia that followed the Lone Star's 3-0
loss to Liberia.
Meanwhile several of Liberia's overseas-based players
have said that they will have to consider their
international futures after the violent clashes.
Massaquoi says the suspension is necessary until the
police feel they have the capacity to deal with such
violence in the future.
"We'll suggest to the Liberian government that all
international football matches be stopped here until we are
able to put the right apparatus together to guide and
control football matches in this country," he said.
The problems in Monrovia followed problems during the
game, which was halted for 30 minutes in the second half.
The stoppage came as police sought to quell fans, who
began throwing stones onto the pitch after Senegal scored
their third goal.
Then after the game the visitors and the referee had to
be taken away from the stadium under the protection of
United Nations troops and their armoured personnel carriers.
Louis Crayton is
one of the players considering his future
for Liberia
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Among the players considering his international future is
striker Malcolm Cephas, who plays his football in the US
first division.
"I don't know whether I'm going to come back, I still
have to decide," he said.
"I love my country and want to continue playing but they
[angry spectators] smashed my dad's car windscreen and my
family is under threat so how can I make a decision to
return."
Goalkeeper Louis Crayton also condemned the mob action
and said he too was uncertain of returning to the team.
"I have a family to cater for and with the trend the
Liberian fans are taking, well we have to be careful about
honouring future matches whether home or away," he said.
The team's administrative manager Wortor Jacques Anderson
said: "It will be difficult getting most of these guys to
return to the team after today's violence.
"We really have to work over the break period to convince
them that this is just one bad day in Liberian Football".
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