Chaos at Sakubva, ref assaulted

Ray Bande in MUTARE

Manica Diamonds……………………………………..(0) 0

Bulawayo City…………………………………………. (1) 1

SECOND assistant referee, Joel Magweva, was assaulted by Bulawayo City player Douglas Sibanda as adrenalin ran high in an eventful Castle Lager Premiership match at Sakubva yesterday.

The chaotic match will probably compete for the longest ever domestic top-flight league encounter award.

The referee eventually blew the final whistle after exactly two hours and 28 minutes minutes.

A normal football match lasts for 90 minutes.

But, this drama-filled match had an initial 26 minutes stoppage after the collapse of a crossbar.

Play had to be stopped in the 51st minute for 26 minutes after the crossbar collapsed when Bulawayo City goalkeeper Reward Muza swung on it.

The worst was yet to come!

With a minute remaining, the match had to be stopped for more than 20 minutes again as Bulawayo City players and officials protested against the referee’s decision to award the home team a penalty.

All hell broke loose as the Bulawayo City players and official mobbed second assistant referee, Magweva, who had raised his flag for a penalty.

Magweva received a few punches from substitute Sibanda forcing the match official to flee for his safety.

Moments later, referee Arnold Ncube, gave in to pressure from the visitors to award the hosts the last-minute penalty.

Chaos then reigned as fans invaded the pitch in anger.