dyton mupawaenda
Curtworth Masango
HIGHLANDERS face expulsion from the Chibuku Super Cup and a ban from next year’s edition but can the domestic football leadership take such an action against one of the game’s giants?
Or, in the wake of the controversy which led to the abandonment of their Chibuku Super Cup game against Simba Bhora on Sunday, will the leaders say there were enough extenuating circumstances for them not to follow their rules and regulations?
Television replays showed that the incident, which provoked the chaos, happened outside the box and the assistant referee has been suspended by ZIFA for his poor handling of the game.
According to the rules governing the Chibuku Super Cup, a team that causes the abandonment of a match by refusing to play will be thrown out of the tournament and will be banned from next year’s edition.
There is NO right to appeal.
According to Clause 7.6 and 7.7 of the Chibuku Super Cup rules and regulations, Highlanders face a fine not less than US$6000.
“If a team refuses to continue to play or leaves the stadium or the field of play before the end of the match, the team will be considered as having lost the match in question.
“The match will be awarded to its opponents on a score line of 3-0 or more if in the case of an abandoned match, the winning team has already reached a higher score at the time the guilty team leaves the field of play.
“The defaulting team shall be banned from participating in the next edition of the Chibuku Super Cup.
“No appeals may be lodged against these decisions,” it reads.
But, do the local football leaders have the spine to effect such a punishment on Highlanders?
Or, they will say that there was too much controversy from the match officials to open a window for them to take a softer approach to the case?
Online Reporter