Sports / Local
Bosso risks losing points
10 Mar 2015 at 06:40hrs | Views
HIGHLANDERS Football Club and other clubs with supporters who engage in violence during matches risk losing points as the Premier Soccer League is mulling deducting points from teams whose fans repeatedly engage in violence during matches.
Docking clubs points was extensively discussed at the weekend during the PSL annual general meeting in Harare where the board of governors suggested that teams found on the wrong side with regards to crowd trouble play in empty stadiums as well.
This comes in the wake of football violence witnessed during the pre-season, hogging the limelight being the Highlanders-Caps United Bob 91 Super Cup at Barbourfields Stadium last week.
Skirmishes were also seen at Rufaro Stadium in Harare on Sunday, hours after the Dynamos and Caps United fans had staged a demonstration against hooliganism. Both sets of supporters went on to throw missiles onto the playing field during the final.
This was the second time that the Caps United and Dynamos fans threw objects having done so when the Harare giants met in a challenge match two weeks ago.
Another incident was recorded at Mandava Stadium during FC Platinum's Orange Caf Confederations Cup tie against Kenya's Sofapaka where a fan threw missiles but was fortunately nabbed by FC Platinum supporters who handed him over to police.
Kennedy Ndebele, the PSL chief executive officer said: "It's important for clubs to own up to their supporters' behaviour so that collective ways of controlling fans are found. According to resolutions made by the board, punishment for repeat offenders will be deduction of points or playing in an empty stadium."
Loss of points should really scare perpetrators of violence as the development will lead to their club losing points that might affect their title hopes and in the worst scenario, get them relegated.
By playing in an empty stadium, the club's coffers will dwindle especially for big teams like Caps United, Dynamos and Highlanders who rely mostly on gate takings to sustain some of their day-to-day operations. These clubs also use revenue generated from their home matches to pay players' bonuses.
Bulawayo giants Highlanders and the PSL are on record challenging police to arrest and charge perpetrators of violence at stadia. Both institutions believe that if the long arm of the law catches up with instigators of violence, then that will deter would-be offenders.
Meanwhile, club bosses have agreed to maintain the $3 gate charges for their 2015 Premiership games with those intending to hike them encouraged to seek authority five days before the intended match.
Most teams have been cashing in whenever playing traditional giants Highlanders and Dynamos by raising their gate charges to $5.
Docking clubs points was extensively discussed at the weekend during the PSL annual general meeting in Harare where the board of governors suggested that teams found on the wrong side with regards to crowd trouble play in empty stadiums as well.
This comes in the wake of football violence witnessed during the pre-season, hogging the limelight being the Highlanders-Caps United Bob 91 Super Cup at Barbourfields Stadium last week.
Skirmishes were also seen at Rufaro Stadium in Harare on Sunday, hours after the Dynamos and Caps United fans had staged a demonstration against hooliganism. Both sets of supporters went on to throw missiles onto the playing field during the final.
This was the second time that the Caps United and Dynamos fans threw objects having done so when the Harare giants met in a challenge match two weeks ago.
Another incident was recorded at Mandava Stadium during FC Platinum's Orange Caf Confederations Cup tie against Kenya's Sofapaka where a fan threw missiles but was fortunately nabbed by FC Platinum supporters who handed him over to police.
Kennedy Ndebele, the PSL chief executive officer said: "It's important for clubs to own up to their supporters' behaviour so that collective ways of controlling fans are found. According to resolutions made by the board, punishment for repeat offenders will be deduction of points or playing in an empty stadium."
Loss of points should really scare perpetrators of violence as the development will lead to their club losing points that might affect their title hopes and in the worst scenario, get them relegated.
By playing in an empty stadium, the club's coffers will dwindle especially for big teams like Caps United, Dynamos and Highlanders who rely mostly on gate takings to sustain some of their day-to-day operations. These clubs also use revenue generated from their home matches to pay players' bonuses.
Bulawayo giants Highlanders and the PSL are on record challenging police to arrest and charge perpetrators of violence at stadia. Both institutions believe that if the long arm of the law catches up with instigators of violence, then that will deter would-be offenders.
Meanwhile, club bosses have agreed to maintain the $3 gate charges for their 2015 Premiership games with those intending to hike them encouraged to seek authority five days before the intended match.
Most teams have been cashing in whenever playing traditional giants Highlanders and Dynamos by raising their gate charges to $5.
Source - chronicle
