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14-minute Hardrock versus Dynamos replay to go ahead
2 hrs ago |
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The controversial resumption of the abandoned Premier Soccer League match between Hardrock and Dynamos will go ahead as scheduled tomorrow after the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) Appeals Committee dismissed Hardrock's urgent application for a stay of execution pending appeal.
Hardrock had sought to halt the replay of the final 14 minutes of the fixture while challenging a ruling by the Premier Soccer League (PSL) Disciplinary Committee, which ordered the match to be completed alongside other sanctions imposed on both clubs.
The application had cast doubt over whether the resumption, scheduled for Baobab Stadium, would proceed.
However, the PSL confirmed on Wednesday that the fixture would continue as planned after the appeals committee rejected Hardrock's request.
"The ZIFA Appeals Committee dismissed Hardrock FC's request for a stay of execution pending appeal," the PSL said in a statement.
"Accordingly, the directive issued by the Premier Soccer League (PSL) Disciplinary Committee on 30 June 2026 remains in force, and the fixture between Hardrock FC and Dynamos FC, which was abandoned on 24 May 2026, shall be completed in accordance with the judgement and subsequent PSL directive on Thursday, 09 July 2026 at 1300hrs at Baobab Stadium."
The league stressed that the ruling only dealt with Hardrock's application to suspend the disciplinary decision and did not determine the substantive appeal, which remains before the ZIFA Appeals Committee.
"This decision relates only to the request for stay of execution pending appeal and is not a determination of the merits of the appeal, which remain pending," the PSL added.
The unprecedented fixture stems from the chaotic scenes at Chahwanda Stadium on May 24, when violent pitch invasions and crowd disturbances forced the referee to abandon the match in the 76th minute with the score tied at 1-1.
Following disciplinary proceedings, the PSL found both clubs guilty of causing the abandonment, fining each US$5,000 and banning them from football-related activities for the remainder of the season.
The resumption presents a rare logistical challenge, with the remaining 14 minutes to be played under the same conditions that existed when the match was abandoned.
Only players, match officials and technical staff named on the original team sheets are eligible to participate. Although both sides had already exhausted their substitutions before the match was abandoned, competition rules allow replacements for players who have since been injured or left their clubs, provided those replacements come from the original substitutes' list.
Dynamos will also have a different face in the technical area. Team manager Ronald Sibanda is expected to oversee the side following the departure of head coach Genesis Mangombe, while newly appointed technical advisor Aristica Cioaba, who guided the Glamour Boys to a 4-0 victory over Agama in his first match last weekend, is ineligible to sit on the bench because he was not part of the original match-day technical team.
Kick-off is scheduled for 1pm at Baobab Stadium.
Hardrock had sought to halt the replay of the final 14 minutes of the fixture while challenging a ruling by the Premier Soccer League (PSL) Disciplinary Committee, which ordered the match to be completed alongside other sanctions imposed on both clubs.
The application had cast doubt over whether the resumption, scheduled for Baobab Stadium, would proceed.
However, the PSL confirmed on Wednesday that the fixture would continue as planned after the appeals committee rejected Hardrock's request.
"The ZIFA Appeals Committee dismissed Hardrock FC's request for a stay of execution pending appeal," the PSL said in a statement.
"Accordingly, the directive issued by the Premier Soccer League (PSL) Disciplinary Committee on 30 June 2026 remains in force, and the fixture between Hardrock FC and Dynamos FC, which was abandoned on 24 May 2026, shall be completed in accordance with the judgement and subsequent PSL directive on Thursday, 09 July 2026 at 1300hrs at Baobab Stadium."
The league stressed that the ruling only dealt with Hardrock's application to suspend the disciplinary decision and did not determine the substantive appeal, which remains before the ZIFA Appeals Committee.
"This decision relates only to the request for stay of execution pending appeal and is not a determination of the merits of the appeal, which remain pending," the PSL added.
The unprecedented fixture stems from the chaotic scenes at Chahwanda Stadium on May 24, when violent pitch invasions and crowd disturbances forced the referee to abandon the match in the 76th minute with the score tied at 1-1.
Following disciplinary proceedings, the PSL found both clubs guilty of causing the abandonment, fining each US$5,000 and banning them from football-related activities for the remainder of the season.
The resumption presents a rare logistical challenge, with the remaining 14 minutes to be played under the same conditions that existed when the match was abandoned.
Only players, match officials and technical staff named on the original team sheets are eligible to participate. Although both sides had already exhausted their substitutions before the match was abandoned, competition rules allow replacements for players who have since been injured or left their clubs, provided those replacements come from the original substitutes' list.
Dynamos will also have a different face in the technical area. Team manager Ronald Sibanda is expected to oversee the side following the departure of head coach Genesis Mangombe, while newly appointed technical advisor Aristica Cioaba, who guided the Glamour Boys to a 4-0 victory over Agama in his first match last weekend, is ineligible to sit on the bench because he was not part of the original match-day technical team.
Kick-off is scheduled for 1pm at Baobab Stadium.
Source - Southern Eye
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