PSL summons Dembare, Hardrock over Chahwanda riot

The Premier Soccer League (PSL) has issued disciplinary summons against Hardrock, Dynamos, and Hardrock chief executive Kudzanai Hove following crowd violence that led to the abandonment of their Castle Lager PSL match at Chahwanda Stadium on May 24, 2026.

Both clubs face multiple charges including causing the abandonment of a match, disturbing normal proceedings, pitch invasion, acts of violence, and malicious damage to property. Hardrock also faces an additional charge of failing to provide adequate security for the fixture.

Hove has been individually charged with disorderly conduct, pitch invasion, and violent behaviour.

According to a leaked referee's report signed by match official Mhaka Magare, the match was tense from the outset, with officials warned of crowd control challenges at the stadium gates before kick-off. The encounter eventually started 30 minutes late, with the first whistle at 3:30pm.

The situation escalated in the 67th minute after Magare awarded Hardrock a penalty for a handball offence. The referee reported that three Dynamos players  -  Shadreck Nyahwa, Hastings Chapusha and Witness Shave  -  along with members of the technical bench, confronted and physically pushed him, leading to a five-minute stoppage.

The penalty was later taken and converted in the 72nd minute, giving Hardrock the lead.

However, violence erupted shortly afterwards while play was still ongoing. Magare stated that Dynamos supporters began throwing bottles, cans and stones towards Hardrock fans, who retaliated, triggering a full-scale confrontation between the rival supporters. The disturbance quickly escalated into pitch invasions by both sets of fans.

The referee further reported that officials attempted to retreat to the dressing rooms for safety but were allegedly blocked by Dynamos technical staff and substitutes.

"The Dynamos technical officials and substitutes blocked our way from leaving the pitch saying we should not run away because we are to blame," Magare stated in his report.

Match officials eventually reached safety in the dressing rooms, but by then conditions had deteriorated significantly. The match commissioner advised that the pitch had been cleared, however Magare noted that visibility had been compromised due to fading light, making it unsafe to resume play. He subsequently abandoned the match on safety grounds.

The PSL Disciplinary Committee is scheduled to hear the matter on June 9, 2026, at 5:30pm at PSL headquarters, where both clubs and Kudzanai Hove are expected to appear.