Kannur Warriors, Ultras Malappuram Trade Statements After Alleged Fan Clash During Super League Kerala Match

Kannur Warriors FC and Ultras Malappuram have issued contrasting statements following allegations of an assault on visiting supporters during their Super League Kerala Season 3 fixture at Payyanad Stadium in Manjeri on October 26.

The incident has raised concerns over the safety of away supporters, with Kannur Warriors expressing solidarity with their fan group, Red Mariners, while Ultras Malappuram strongly rejected allegations of misconduct by their supporters.

In an official statement, Kannur Warriors FC said they stood firmly with Red Mariners following the reported assault on their supporters. The club expressed concern over the safety and security arrangements provided for away fans at Malappuram Stadium. It also highlighted the journey undertaken by its supporters, stating that they had travelled for more than four hours on a Monday to support the team.

"To face such an incident after making that effort is unacceptable and deeply concerning," the club stated.

Kannur Warriors assured their supporters of full assistance, including necessary legal support, and urged the concerned authorities to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into the reported incidents and take appropriate action against those responsible.

"Our fans are our family. Their safety and dignity will always be our priority," the club added.

Ultras Malappuram Reject Allegations

Ultras Malappuram, meanwhile, issued a strong rebuttal, denying any misconduct, negligence or wrongdoing on their part. The supporters' group accused opposing supporters and online communities of spreading what it described as a baseless and malicious narrative targeting Malappuram fans.

In its statement dated October 26, the group said every effort had been made to ensure the event proceeded smoothly, responsibly and in the spirit of football.

Ultras Malappuram also rejected claims portraying the town as an unsafe environment for women, pointing to the attendance of women, families and supporters at Payyanad Stadium across three consecutive seasons of the Super League Kerala.

"Never in the history of our home matches has any such untoward incident taken place," the statement read.

The group described the allegations against its supporters as unjust and irresponsible, insisting that genuine concerns should be addressed through factual evidence rather than online accusations.

"Our name is Ultras Malappuram. Our pride is Malappuram. We stand for our people, respect, and the truth," the statement concluded.

Malappuram Beat Kannur 3-0

The controversy followed Malappuram FC's emphatic 3-0 victory over defending champions Kannur Warriors. Amadou Soukouna opened the scoring in the 19th minute before Muhammed Mahdi doubled the hosts' advantage in first-half stoppage time. C.K. Rashid added the third in the 66th minute.

The result lifted Malappuram to third in the standings with eight points from five matches, while Kannur dropped to fourth with seven points.

MyKhel have approached Kannur Warriors, Malappuram FC and Ultras Malappuram for comments.