Soccer referee headbutted, match called off

THE Zifa Eastern Region Division One top-of-the-table clash between Masvingo United and Buffalo Junior at Rudhaka was abandoned in the 68th minute after the referee was headbutted by a Yuna Yuna  player.

Tichaona Zvandasara, the Masvingo United player, now stands accused of assaulting the referee in an incident that forced the match commissioner to call off the match.

The two teams were level on 28 points when they met in the last match of the first round.

Masvingo United had gone for 10 games  without a loss but their match against Buffalo

Junior will now be decided in the boardroom with the points likely to be awarded to Buffalo  Junior.

The Yuna Yuna players protested the decision  by the referee to award a goal, from a Kastigu Juwakinyu effort, which saw Buffalo Junior taking a 2-1 lead.

The assistant referee had ruled that the former Black Rhinos forward had strayed into an offside position.

But the referee let the goal stand and that did not go down well with the Yuna Yuna  players who protested leading to the attack on the referee.

The two teams are expected to come before a disciplinary hearing tomorrow.

Yuna Yuna are not new to controversy as they also have a history of having a short fuse and there were incidents in their matches against Mutare Poly and Surrey at Mucheke.

The hosts, Buffalo Junior did not hire the police and, somehow, the match commissioner allowed the match to proceed.

Eastern Region chief executive, Tedious  Machawira, said they will summon both clubs to a hearing.

"I haven't got all the reports yet but we will bring the teams to book soon after we have a report of what transpired," said Machawira.

Eastern Region Results

Black Eagles 0-1 Mutare City; Chivhu Stars 1-0 Renco Mine; Gutu 1-1 Ruwa United; Gaza Gunners 0-0 Tenax; Surrey Abattoirs 0-0 Mutare Poly; Eastern Stars 3-1 Mwenezana; ZRP Masvingo 2-1 FC Three Leaves; Buffalo Jnr v Masvingo United (abandoned)