adminBoth teams, together with Harare City, Mwana Africa, DStv and Highfield United, are involved in the title race.
The league fathers had been racing against time to conclude the matter and have all the teams at par going into the weekend’s matches and avoid giving unfair advantage to any team.
But it seems this would not be possible following the appeal from La Liga.
La Liga are tied on 45 points with Harare City, who have a superior goal difference, while Rhinos are sixth with 40 points.
The match was stopped in the 77th minute by referee Phineas Takaedza who claimed there was not enough security after a Black Rhinos fan allegedly assaulted a La Liga player preparing to take a corner kick.
Yesterday, La Liga team manager Bothwell Mahlengwe wrote to the board advising them that the club would not replay the match until their issues are addressed.
“Our rejection is based on the following:
- l It is not clear whether your meeting on the 7th October constitutes a disciplinary hearing or not, and the board that sat in it constitute a disciplinary committee.
If so, clarify the section of Zifa constitution that gives your board the mandate to sit as a Discilinary Committee.
- We believe that the charge “inadequate security at the match venue” and “for allowing conditions that caused supporters to enter the field of play to prevail” is a wrong and lesser charge than the exact one which is provided for in your Rules and Regulations section D2 2 (which reads):
- ‘A participant shall at all times act in the best interest of the game and shall not act in any manner which is improper or brings the game into disrepute or use any one, or a combination of violent conduct, serious foul play, consumption of alcohol within the boundaries of a playing field during a match.’
- It goes without saying that the match was abandoned because a Black Rhinos supporter entered the field of play and hit our player.
We believe that the real issue at hand was ignored. The sitting ought to have dwelt on the abandonment of the game.”
However, Zifa Northern Region board secretary Sween Mushonga said if any team did not fulfill the game today, the referee would award a walkover.
“As far as we know the match is on today and the home team has done all the necessary arrangements for the game to be played.
“And if any team decides not to come then it would be a walkover. We have received letters from La Liga tabling their concerns,” said Mushonga.
Online Reporter