Express coach George Ssimwogerere is at war with authorities after being fined for his alleged role in ball boys hiding balls during a StarTimes Uganda Premier League (SUPL) match against Police.

The outspoken coach has been fined Shs500,000 by the Fufa Disciplinary Panel for reportedly ordering ball boys to hide balls as a delay tactic during their 5-3 win over Police at Wankulukuku early this month.

League rules state that, the “match day referee must ensure physical presence of at least eight official match balls before kickoff. And this number of balls under normal circumstances must at all times during play be available for use.”

The referee’s match report detailed that Ssimwogerere actually was caught in the act, which the former club and Uganda captain denies.

“I don’t mind paying the money but what for?” Ssimwogerere is quoted by the Daily Monitor, “I didn’t even talk to those ball boys at all.

“This is Fufa’s gimmick to make money and I don’t care about what they do,” Ssimwogerere says he is focused on his next league match against Busoga United and not the fine.

The panel ruled that the incident happened in the 58th minute when the coach is said to have told the ball boys to hide the balls which delayed restart.

Ssimwogerere is still struggling to get results on pitch going his way, with the Red Eagles 11th after nine games.

Last season, Mbarara City we fined Shs1m for the same offence – ironically against Express in the Red Eagles 1-0 victory.