JOHANNESBYRG, April 22 (Xinhua) -- South African authorities and several sports organizations on Sunday condemned the violence by soccer fans on Saturday that left 18 injured at Moses Mabhida Stadium.
"Football is a beautiful game, and I can't sit idle while a few supporters are making a skunk of our game," Sports and Recreation Minister Tokozile Xasa said. "Answers must be provided on what happened yesterday."
On Saturday night Kaizer Chiefs fans stormed the pitch when their team was beaten 2-0 in the Nedbank Semifinal cup.
The fans attacked security guards and damaged stadium property, injuring 18 people. Only two have so far been arrested.
"PSL (Premier Soccer League) and stadium management must provide answers about what happened in Moses Mabhida Stadium," the sports minister said. "How did supporters manage to storm the ground and endanger people's lives?"
"Violence will never be a solution, no matter how frustrated one might feel about one's football club," Xasa said. "I will never allow people's lives to be in danger because of a few unruly football supporters. We must make football a family sport."
South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) also condemned the violence.
"There is simply no excuse for this manner of behavior, not this weekend, not ever," said Sascoc President Gideon Sam.
"We join the rest of South Africa in hoping that these perpetrators are brought to book as soon as possible and that the full force of law is implemented against them," he said.
The Premier Soccer League (PSL) also condemned the violence.
"Hooliganism and thuggery of this nature have no place in football and acts of violence perpetrated by individuals... last night cannot be tolerated," the PSL said in a statement.
"The league will work closely with law enforcement to ensure that those responsible for this hooliganism are subjected to judicial processes," the statement said.