Highlanders are in trouble once again as they have been summoned to appear before the Premier Soccer League Disciplinary Committee on September 29 for alleged unruly behaviour of their supporters during the BancABC Sup8r Cup final against Motor Action at Barbourfields Stadium last Saturday.
A section of Bosso fans at the Soweto stand threw missiles onto the pitch before the game ended leading to the injury of Motor Action midfielder Masimba Mambare.
Fans also damaged the perimeter fence resulting in running battles with police who tried to quell the brief skirmishes.
Motor Action lifted the 2011 edition of the Sup8r Cup after Allen Gahadzikwa beat Highlanders’ goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda with a header in the eleventh minute.
It will be the second time that Bosso will be hauled before the league’s disciplinary committee this season.
In May, they appeared before the disciplinary committee following similar behaviour by some fans in a match in which Highlanders beat Chicken Inn 2-1 at Luveve Stadium, although both teams were later found not guilty.
Premier Soccer League (PSL) chief executive officer Kennedy Ndebele on Thursday confirmed the Bulawayo football giants had been called by the league.
“Highlanders have been summoned to appear before the PSL disciplinary committee on September 29 after the incident where their fans threw missiles onto the pitch. Masimba Mambare was injured in the process,” he said.
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According to PSL rules and regulations order 31,1, it is an offence for supporters to invade the pitch, throw or attempt to throw missiles or act violently against anyone during the game.
Article 31, 1,13 of the PSL rules and regulations says a team may face disciplinary committee hearings if its supporters misbehave in any manner whatsoever, inside or outside a ground before, during or after a match, no matter on which ground the match is played.
Throwing or attempting to throw missiles, bottles and other objects, whether potentially harmful or dangerous is an offence.
In the first disciplinary hearing Highlanders and Chicken Inn were acquitted of any wrong doing as there was no police report to corroborate the allegations.
Allegations were that as Chicken Inn players entered the field of play at Luveve Stadium Herbert Dick confronted a Highlanders marshal and assaulted him resulting in the rest of the home team players joining in the attack.
Highlanders fans reacted by throwing missiles onto the pitch leading to the injury of Chicken Inn defender Frank Mvula who was subsequently ferried to Galen House for medical treatment.
Chicken Inn goalkeeper Liberty Chirava was also injured in the process, but managed to continue the match.
Highlanders scored through Innocent Mapuranga and midfielder Eric Mudzingwa after Chicken Inn had drawn first blood through Thomas Chimenya.
Highlanders host Blue Ribbon on Sunday, hoping to bounce back to winning ways and keep pressure on the leading trio of Motor Action, FC Platinum and Dynamos.
Motor Action and the platinum miners do not have easy ties though, with the Mighty Bulls at home to Chicken Inn and Platinum hosting Caps United at Mandava.
