adminRicky Zililo Sports Reporter
IT is off-season in Zimbabwe but most competitive soccer leagues in the world are approaching their halfway mark and big matches in most leagues are on the offing.It’s a tight race in the English Premiership where Arsenal are at the top of the log enjoying a two-point lead over Liverpool and Chelsea who have 33 points after 16 rounds of matches.
Manchester City are occupying the fourth spot with 32 points and defending champions Manchester United are a distant eight trailing pace-setters Arsenal with 10 points having amassed 25 points.
In the Bundesliga, Germany champions Bayern Munich are running away with the title on 44 points after 16 matches, seven points ahead of Beyer Leverkusen. Spanish giants Barcelona are tied on 43 points with Atletico Madrid while Real Madrid are third with 38 points.
The Old Lady of Italian football, Juventus are at the apex of Serie A enjoying a five-point lead over AS Roma who have 38 points.
Competition is tense in all these world-class competitive leagues on and off the field.
It is Italian soccer that Zimbabwean football clubs can take a leaf from in as far as fan education is concerned. This comes against a backdrop of clubs parting with the limited cash they have through fines culminating from their fans’ unruly behaviour that saw the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League revealing that it will get a whopping $274,250 from disciplinary offences and fines.
Premiership champions Dynamos were hard-hit as they contribute a big chunk to the total, $65,500 which was mostly accumulated from pitch invasions and missile throwing by their followers.
The missile throwing or pitch invasion attracts a fine of $8,000 per incident. DeMbare’s supporters’ rowdy behaviour has cost their team a huge chunk from their championship pickings as the Harare giants were rapped for seven missile throwing or pitch invasion incidents that cost the club $56,000.
Dynamos’ fans threw missiles at Rufaro Stadium on April 21 against Highlanders when they played to a 1-1 draw, at Luveve Stadium on July 6 where they lost 1-0, at the Colliery Stadium where they suffered their big season 2-4 defeat to Hwange on October 2, in their goalless draw with Monomotapa and their 1-0 win against Highlanders at Barbourfields Stadium on October 27.
DeMbare fans only invaded the pitch twice against Caps United and on their last game of the season against Black Mambas a fortnight ago.
This meant that Dynamos who won the championship which has a $70,000 prize would have gone home with just $4,500 after settling the fines.
Just like in the Premiership standings, cash-strapped Bulawayo giants Highlanders follow behind Dynamos on the fines table contributing to the PSL $26,550.
Highlanders fans’ disorderly conduct cost the club $24,550 with the difference accumulated from coach Kelvin Kaindu’s dismissal when they beat Triangle 2-1 at Gibbo Stadium on April 6, Bosso’s contribution to the delay in kickoff of their match against Hwange on June 2 and were fined $500 after their players got five yellow cards in their September 4 encounter with Monomotapa.
The fines will definitely increase next season if fans continue behaving badly in stadia. Speaking at last Friday’s Soccer Star of the Year banquet in Harare, Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Andrew Langa challenged football followers to desist from hate language through their derogatory chants or songs during matches at stadia.
Football is meant to be a beautiful game, a family sport and above all unite people from all races and tribes. As such, supporters must unite for a cause and make the game exciting by shunning songs that denigrate others.
Italy is one country that has rowdy fans and its football body continues with fights against racist or discriminatory chants. As Roma and Inter Milan were on December 16 fined €50,000 each and forced to shut sections of their stadiums for one match after their fans were found guilty of racist or discriminatory chants, Serie A said on Tuesday.
Roma were ordered to close the Curva Sud section of the Stadio Olimpico where their most dedicated fans sit because of racist chants aimed at AC Milan striker Mario Balotelli during Monday’s 2-2 Serie A draw at the San Siro.
A disciplinary tribunal said Roma supporters chanted “The red-and-blacks are a team of blacks”, referring to the colours of the Milan shirt, and persistently booed Balotelli when he had the ball.
Inter Milan were also fined and ordered to shut off a section of their ground for one match because of discriminatory chants aimed at Napoli fans during Sunday’s match in the southern city.
The tribunal said the game, which ended 4-2 to the home side, was marred by chants of “Naples cholera, you are the shame of all Italy; smell of shit, smell of dogs, the Neapolitans are coming… You are not human beings.”
The ruling means Inter will play tomorrow’s derby with city rivals AC Milan without the support of hardcore fans who usually sit in the Curva Nord.
Italian soccer authorities have cracked down on discriminatory as well as racist chanting this season, announcing automatic stadium closures as a penalty.
This has angered many fans who have long traded insults. Ultras from teams including Naples have campaigned against the rules.
A selection of smaller fines were also given to Napoli, Juventus, Milan, Catania and Lazio for charges including aggressive chanting and the use of firecrackers.
With such giant measures happening in Europe, it is a challenge for the Zimbabwean football family to emulate what the Italians have done.
Clubs have a duty to educate their fans even during the off-season so that when competition starts in March, they behave well in stadia.
It would not be bad for clubs to agree on some fines for offences emanating from derogatory songs.
Before the start of the 2013 season, clubs agreed on a fine list for various offences that led to Dynamos and Bosso being the most hit in the just ended year.
It is the duty of the board of governors as well as their club executives to protect the interests of soccer. Fans must know how much pain they cause to their clubs with their unruly actions in stadia and the PSL has to develop a thick skin and nip out the bug of discriminatory chants in stadia.
Online Reporter