The president of the Zimbabwe National Soccer Supporters Association Joseph Mutawu rightly pointed out that no amount of club fines or sanctions will resolve the Zimbabwean football hooligan element.
Mutawu likened the heavy fines imposed on clubs as to applying a bandage on a bullet wound yet the bullet itself remained deep inside the wound.
This is exactly what is happening to our football as the archaic rule that dictates that clubs are responsible for the behaviour of their fans has completely failed yet it still remains in force
Surely, it is very unfair that clubs continue to suffer and losing thousands of dollars over the behaviour of fans whom they have no control over.
How surely, can, Highlanders — for example — be responsible for the behaviour of a grown-up family man who came to a football stadium totally drunk and caused commotion?
That fan is likely to repeat that behaviour again knowing pretty well that nothing will be done to him and — after all — Highlanders will pay the fine for his behaviour.
Mutawu thinks that football leaders are taking shortcuts and ignoring Fifa and Caf safety protocols — and we agree — but we also feel that fans should know before they leave their homes or drinking places that violence has no place in football.
That lesson will only come when football stadium trouble makers are arrested, prosecuted, and sent to serve a jail term for the offence committed at the stadium.
That will serve as a warning and a deterrent to those with the same intention that football is not a place for violence and hooliganism.
It happens in most parts of the world and only last year in England, five football fans were sent to prison for their part in the violence that ensured in the English Championship match between Huddersfield and Millwall.
Some time back, a group of League One side Lincoln City received a combined 31-year sentence for their role in the disturbances that saw Luton City fans injured.
Not forgetting the four supporters of Rotherham who were sentenced to 20 months each behind bars for attacking supporters of Bradford City.
Football is paying the Zimbabwe Republic Police to maintain order at stadiums and to arrest trouble makers right at the scene of the incident and we expect that to be happening.
It was shocking that the police had to search for Chahwanda Stadium trouble makers through social media pictures as if they were not there.
What we want to see is improved service because - after all - football is paying for that service
Send the football hooligans to jail and that fear of jail will stop the others from engaging in the same behaviour.
*For your comments, views, and suggestions mkariati@gmail.com or Whatsapp on 0773 266 779.