Sports Reporter
The Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL) has slapped Highlanders and Simba Bhora with a US$6,000 fine each following the violent conduct of their fans during Sunday’s Chibuku Super Cup quarter-final match at Wadzanai stadium.
The violence erupted after a contentious penalty was awarded to Simba Bhora in the 76th minute, prompting Highlanders to abandon the match in protest.
“To me, this charge doesn’t make any sense, because you cannot hold an away team accountable for crowd violence,” said football analyst Tom Nyathi.
“How is it possible for an away team to have power to control the crowd? It honestly doesn’t make any sense.”
Besides the fine, the PSL has also summoned Highlanders to appear before the disciplinary committee on Tuesday to respond on why they abandoned the match.
There was an outcry of biased referring on the day as Highlanders fans claim that referees are bieng bribed by Simba Bhora sponsors.
Fans are bemoaning decisions made by referees against every teams that plays against Simba Bhora. A staunch Zimbabwean football follower has asked football authorities to review all Simba Bhora games. Allegations are that either the referees make sinister decisions in favour of Simba Bhora or the opposing team is bribed to throw the game.
It is alleges that some of the sponsors who bribe match officials to ensure that Simba Bhora wins are named in the Gold Mafia Scandal.
On its own, Simba Bhora, would not have survived up to this level.
In the meantime, ZIFA’s Referee Committee has since suspended the centre referee for the day Cecil Ngwezere for poor officiating together with one of his assistants.
Key Developments:
- Fines: Highlanders and Simba Bhora fined US$6,000 each for fans’ hooliganism.
- Disciplinary Action: Highlanders summoned to appear before PSL’s disciplinary committee on Tuesday.
- Referee Suspension: Centre referee Cecil Ngwezere and assistant suspended by ZIFA’s Referee Committee for poor officiating.
Nyathi criticized the PSL’s decision, arguing that the away team cannot control the crowd.
“It’s unfair to Highlanders… Highlanders cannot control fans in Shamva.”
The incident has sparked debate on stadium security and fan behavior in Zimbabwean football.
Zim GBC News©2024