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DeMbare fined $5k by Caf

Sport
Dynamos have been slapped with a $5 000 fine by the Confederation of African Football (Caf) disciplinary board for the violent conduct of their players during their second round, second leg Champions League match against MC Alger in Algeria on April 2. The Caf disciplinary board met in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Wednesday to review […]

Dynamos have been slapped with a $5 000 fine by the Confederation of African Football (Caf) disciplinary board for the violent conduct of their players during their second round, second leg Champions League match against MC Alger in Algeria on April 2.

The Caf disciplinary board met in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Wednesday to review DeMbare’s controversial Champions League match which they lost 3-0.

However, the Glamour Boys, who never filed a protest, are paying the price for the conduct of their players, who are said to have hurled obscenities while one of them spat at the referee (Egypt’s Fahim Omar). Eight Dynamos players were yellow-carded during the encounter while Archford Gutu and Guthrie Zhokinyi were red- carded.

A ray of hope had filtered through the Dynamos corridors after Caf indicated that they would review the match despite DeMbare, who alleged they had been robbed, missing the deadline to file a protest.

Dynamos’ opponents in the match MC Alger were also fined $5 000 for breaching Article 82 — entering the field by their supporters.

The Dynamos Class of 2011 — still wet behind the ears — will also go down into the history books as one that will be remembered for the wrong reasons after being felled in the first round.

This is the first time that DeMbare, who had a bye in the preliminary round — were knocked out in the early stages of the competition since 1998.

Lloyd Mutasa also become the first coach after Sunday Chidzambwa (1998), David Mandigora (2009) and Elvis Chiweshe (2010) to be knocked out in the first round, while the other coaches reached the group stages.

Chidzambwa went a mile ahead to reach the finals and lost to Asec Mimosas of Ivory Coast.

Caf reviewed seven matches in the current Champions League tournament under dispute and meted different punishments but they did not order a replay in any of the matches.

Egypt’s Zamalek received the heaviest punishment after being slapped with an $80 000 fine for the abandonment of their Champions League match against Tunisia’s Club Africain.

Zamalek were charged with match interruption, full pitch invasion, usage of flares and fuming substances and aggression towards referees and the away team.

Zamalek were ordered to play their next four home Caf interclub matches behind closed doors without spectators.

Nevertheless, the board decided to suspend two of these matches on condition that Zamalek are not found guilty of a similar offence in the next two years.

Hence, only two matches to be played without spectators are effective immediately.

The club may also be suspended from participating in Caf competitions for the duration of one year if similar offences occur.