News / National
ZIFA concerned about B/F violence
15 Sep 2023 at 01:20hrs | Views
After three days of silence, the Zifa Normalisation Committee has finally addressed the violence that marred the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match between Dynamos and Highlanders at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday.
Zifa's response came on the fourth day following the disturbing incidents at Barbourfields, with concerns within the local football community that the interim leadership of the football governing body was not taking decisive action.
Led by Lincoln Mutasa, the Zifa Normalisation Committee has been relatively passive on several football matters that typically require strong leadership.
The statement was issued at a time when an affiliate, the Premier Soccer League, rejected Yadah's request to relocate their match against Highlanders on Sunday to an empty Barbourfields or a neutral venue. The PSL believes that addressing hooliganism without abandoning the affected venues is crucial to prevent thugs from disrupting more matches. However, a disciplinary hearing for the ill-fated match is yet to take place, and the current decision is subject to further ruling.
The hearing is scheduled for September 26 at the PSL offices in Harare, where Highlanders, their defender Peter Mudhuwa, and Dynamos have been summoned. Highlanders faces charges related to causing the match's abandonment, missile throwing, pitch invasion, acts of violence, and malicious damage to property, while Mudhuwa is charged with inciting violence and improper behavior. Dynamos is accused of pitch invasion, missile throwing, and acts of violence.
Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Republic Police reported that the number of individuals arrested in connection with the violence on Sunday had increased to 19 as investigations continue to account for all suspects.
In their statement, Zifa expressed grave concern about the crowd trouble that led to the match's abandonment and called on all stakeholders to act responsibly to preserve fair play and camaraderie in the game. They commended the police for apprehending suspected hooligans and emphasized the need for strict enforcement of lengthy stadium bans for troublemakers.
The Zifa Normalisation Committee believes that addressing football hooliganism requires engagement from all parties. They emphasized the importance of supporters playing their role in maintaining civility in the game, highlighting that football needs order to attract sponsors. They also expressed concern about offensive songs, chants, and gestures in Zimbabwean football and announced plans to create a focus group to address these issues.
Furthermore, Zifa encouraged stakeholders to conduct education and awareness campaigns to enlighten supporters about the negative impact of violence at football matches. They stressed that violence tarnishes the image of the game and isolates it from the corporate sector, which is crucial for the commercialization of football in Zimbabwe.
The statement concluded by emphasizing the collective responsibility of all involved to elevate Zimbabwean football to a higher level.
Zifa's response came on the fourth day following the disturbing incidents at Barbourfields, with concerns within the local football community that the interim leadership of the football governing body was not taking decisive action.
Led by Lincoln Mutasa, the Zifa Normalisation Committee has been relatively passive on several football matters that typically require strong leadership.
The statement was issued at a time when an affiliate, the Premier Soccer League, rejected Yadah's request to relocate their match against Highlanders on Sunday to an empty Barbourfields or a neutral venue. The PSL believes that addressing hooliganism without abandoning the affected venues is crucial to prevent thugs from disrupting more matches. However, a disciplinary hearing for the ill-fated match is yet to take place, and the current decision is subject to further ruling.
The hearing is scheduled for September 26 at the PSL offices in Harare, where Highlanders, their defender Peter Mudhuwa, and Dynamos have been summoned. Highlanders faces charges related to causing the match's abandonment, missile throwing, pitch invasion, acts of violence, and malicious damage to property, while Mudhuwa is charged with inciting violence and improper behavior. Dynamos is accused of pitch invasion, missile throwing, and acts of violence.
In their statement, Zifa expressed grave concern about the crowd trouble that led to the match's abandonment and called on all stakeholders to act responsibly to preserve fair play and camaraderie in the game. They commended the police for apprehending suspected hooligans and emphasized the need for strict enforcement of lengthy stadium bans for troublemakers.
The Zifa Normalisation Committee believes that addressing football hooliganism requires engagement from all parties. They emphasized the importance of supporters playing their role in maintaining civility in the game, highlighting that football needs order to attract sponsors. They also expressed concern about offensive songs, chants, and gestures in Zimbabwean football and announced plans to create a focus group to address these issues.
Furthermore, Zifa encouraged stakeholders to conduct education and awareness campaigns to enlighten supporters about the negative impact of violence at football matches. They stressed that violence tarnishes the image of the game and isolates it from the corporate sector, which is crucial for the commercialization of football in Zimbabwe.
The statement concluded by emphasizing the collective responsibility of all involved to elevate Zimbabwean football to a higher level.
Source - The Herald
