All boxes were ticked before the game

THE Premier Soccer League says all pre-match protocols were observed ahead of the epic tie pitting hosts Hardrock and Dynamos at Chahwanda Stadium, a tie that was abandoned because of crowd trouble.

Referee Mhaka Magara was forced to call off the match after rival fans fought in the terraces and on the pitch, endangering the lives of players and paying public. Several people were injured in the skirmishes as violence reared its ugly head in the domestic game, which is desperate for a positive image.

A young ball boy was hit by a missile as Dynamos players protested the penalty decision, which resulted in the equaliser.

The match was a one-all stalemate at the time of the forced stoppage.

Premier Soccer League chief executive officer, Rodwell Thabe, yesterday said all protocols had been laid bare following a pre-match meeting which was held a day before the match. In attendance were the PSL, represented by a compliance officer, the Zimbabwe Republic Police, Hardrock’s chief security officer, club treasurer, club administrator and chief cashiers.

This is standard and every club that is home hosts that meeting, where the number of security details, the time the stadium will be opened and the number of turnstiles.

“The pre-match meeting was held, which is a routine thing for all our members ahead of matches. A number of recommendations were adapted for the Sunday match,” said Thabe.

The deployment plan was as follows: 80 police details were to be at the stadium, 22 cashiers and gates in place, 35 private security guards, 90 marshals, two compliance officers and four chief cashiers.

The rest of the ground fans paid US$5, grandstand US$10, VIP US$30 and VVIP TRIBUNE US$50.

When the Zimpapers Sports Hub arrived at the stadium 20 minutes before the scheduled kick-off, thousands of fans were in queues that showed slow movement and there were complaints about the speed at which people were being cleared into the stadium.

The marshals, despite the purported figures, were missing in action, with fans taking turns to taunt each other by entering the field from the terraces before the match, which is not allowed.

PSL sensing trouble then recommended a 20-minute delay of kick off to avoid a stampede. Some fans jumped over the wall.

Fans appeared to be incensed by the referee’s failure to deal with offending players; even those who were protesting his decisions had moments to argue with him, whereas another referee would have rightfully flashed a card.

The home team made it 1-1 in the 68th after Shadreck Nyahwa’s hand appeared to have been hit by the ball as he fell to the ground, only for Magara to point to the spot. This appeared to have triggered the violence.

Fans sitting on the northern bay adjacent to each other started pelting each other with missiles, which soon became a real battle with sections vacated as some flowed onto the pitch for safety in the 80th minute, with ensuing battles having no police or marshals to deal with the problem.

It was only after some time that about 20 police details became visible, but damage had already been done, with some fans injured and a section of the stadium vandalised.

Thabe said the League is waiting for written submissions, which will be sent to their prosecution team.

“We have been made to believe that some arrests have been made and police will make more arrests through video and photographic evidence,” said Thabe.

A soccer analyst said the problem with curbing violence and some other sport-specific crimes like match-fixing was suffering because of the lack of laws to deal with them.

“It is about time that matter was re-visited. We need laws that deal with offenders, right now they will be treated like common law criminals and get small fines for public nuisance, yet they would have put people’s lives at risk,” said the analyst.

Yesterday, a PSL governor who is also Hardrock chairman, Wellington Mpandare, visited a fan who is the only one reported as still in the hospital.

“Hospital authorities said 12 fans were treated and discharged, with one left in a private ward and being attended to. His life is not in danger, from what we were told. We are going to review all available footage and ensure the matter is resolved as soon as possible,” said Thabe, adding that the safety of both players and fans remains a priority for the League.

Sources close to Hardrock told Zimpapers Sports Hub that it is the club’s habit to reduce the number of police after the pre-match meeting to cut costs.

It is said only 20 police details were at the stadium in uniform, with as many purported to have been in plain clothes.

“We are also engaging the police to hear their side of the story. Eighty was the agreed number because it was a high-profile game. For such as the Harare Derby between Caps and Dynamos, we had 80, which is a norm, but at Barbourfields Stadium, for such we go up to 100,” said Thabe.

His office was advised and signed a consent letter on the number of police to be deployed.

Police presence at Barbourfields is always visible, unlike at some stadia around the country.

The PSL said 10,312 fans paid to watch the match.