THE Castle Lager Premier Soccer League is worried about incidencies of violence at match venues following the abandonement of a match between Shabanie Mine and Harare City at Maglas in Zvishavane on Sunday.
Report by Wellington Toni
The match was called off nine minutes from time as Shabanie Mine supporters ran amok after two own goals from Harare City were dissallowed for offside by referee Sambulo Dube. Due to inadequate security at the stadium and after consultations with match commissioner Hasmon Zingoma, Dube called off the match.
Both clubs have been ordered to submit reports to the PSL today and will be summoned to appear before a disciplinary committee. PSL chief executive Kennedy Ndebele said yesterday: “We have not received the referees report but we are expecting it today (late yesterday), but we have asked the clubs to submit their reports to us because the case will be heard by the disciplinary committee.
“Violence is unacceptable in football and after the last judgment (Highlanders were fined $8000), it shows we are not going to tolerate it. This affects the value of the league and the corporates that we are working with.
“It does not only affect the sponsors, but the fans and even sponsors of the respective clubs. Violence is old fashioned and it paints a very ugly state of anything that you are trying to do.
“It’s bad for the players; they are not safe because an injury to one is an injury to all and we will instill discipline to stamp out such acts.”
Highlanders were fined $8000 last week for the violence that erupted during their 2-0 win over Shabanie Mine at Maglas on Good Friday. The match had to be stopped as reinforcements were called once it became clear that the hosts, as per PSL rules and regulations, had failed to provide enough security.
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More often police go to football to watch games than provide security for the fans. Highlanders also face another charge of violence from their April 21 match against Dynamos at Rufaro where refereee of the day Norman Matemera alleged that the Bosso fans threw missiles interupting the flow of the match.
The match was screened live on Supersport 9 and has been repeated with evidence the match was not stopped as a result of the alleged missile throwing.
Ndebele would not say much on the level of match officiating in the country, but hoped would improve soon.
“They have done a refresher course and we are hoping that we will see an improvement. The referees’ decisions are final but should not be used by fans to perpetrate violence.”
