ZIFA say Dynamos did not challenge the $10 000 fine slapped on them by the Confederation of African Football (Caf) for their fans’ “unsporting behaviour” during their Champions League match against CA Bizertin despite the champions insisting they filed an appeal.
Report by Tawanda Tafirenyika
DeMbare were fined by the continental soccer mother body for what it described as “unsporting and regrettable behaviour of its supporters” following a brief stoppage of their match against Bizertin at Rufaro in April.
According to Dynamos board secretary Chris Kasiyazi, the champions beat the deadline to file an appeal.
Dynamos chairperson Keni Mubaiwa also concurred. “We filed an appeal against the fine through Zifa. Our secretary (then Chris Kasiyazi) was handling the issue. We are now waiting for a response from Caf,” said Mubaiwa yesterday.
But Zifa chief executive officer Jonathan Mashingaidze said his office did not receive anything from Dynamos pertaining to the appeal.
“We are not aware of the appeal. If they had appealed, it should have come through our office. All communications to Caf and Fifa come through Zifa,” said Mashingaidze.
Kasiyazi maintained Dynamos filed their appeal through Zifa. He promised to check with the football association on what could have happened to their appeal papers.
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Caf had written to Zifa informing them of their decision to impose the fine on Dynamos for what it described as “unsporting and regrettable behaviour of its supporters”.
South African referee Lindikhaya Bolo, who handled the match, had stated in his report that the match was temporarily stopped due to water bottles being thrown onto the pitch. He said after a minute’s stoppage, the game resumed again without incident.
The continental soccer mother body reminded Zifa and Dynamos that the host association or club is responsible for order and security both inside and around the stadium before, during and after the match, and that it is liable for unsporting incidents of any kind.
Dynamos said the fine was too severe a punishment for the brief stoppage. The Zimbabwean champions won the match 1-0, but bowed out 3-1 on aggregate to the Tunisian side.
With the Caf disciplinary committee set to meet next week, the Dynamos appeal case is supposed to be also heard by the appeals body in which Zifa vice-president Ndumiso Gumede sits.
