PSL fights hooliganism

Sports Reporter
THE Premier Soccer League has embarked on a campaign to flush out violence and hooliganism from the local game through engaging the fans.The PSL has been distributing flyers and have erected banners with anti-violence and anti-hooliganism messages at the stadia throughout the country in the hope that fans could take heed and desist from thuggery during football matches.

PSL chief executive officer, Kennedy Ndebele said the drive was part of their campaign to ensure all football fans attended games without fear of being caught up in violence, while also enhancing the image of the “beautiful’’ game.

The flyers have messages that read “Let us kick out hooliganism and violence . . . The Premier Soccer League is appealing to all football fans to desist from acts of violence and hooliganism before, during and after football matches.” The flyers also urge fans to report all acts of violence and hooliganism.

Violence has been a thorn in the flesh of the local top tier league with several incidents of violence being recorded at various matches across the country.

Ndebele said while it was the responsibility of clubs to deal with violence, the PSL decided to come in and supplement their efforts of curbing the scourge.

He said clubs seemed to have left this critical duty in the hands of police, which was the wrong way of approaching the issue.

“Violence affects everyone negatively at the stadium with players becoming timid and failing to showcase their skills. The supporter is supposed to be the 12th man and cheer their team on instead of being engaged in negative acts.

Clubs need to project a positive image in order to make their brand appealing but with violence, no one would want to associate with that club or brand,” said Ndebele.

He said violence damages a football brand as sponsors did not want to associate with such negative aspects.

“Tomorrow people will be asking themselves why sponsors are deserting the sport when it is such things as violence and hooliganism. People who love football want to bring their families to the stadium but once they think their children are in danger they do not go or go alone which means we are losing a future passionate supporter,” added Ndebele.

The PSL usually fines clubs for violence or hooliganism caused by teams’ fans but early this year they announced they would be enacting other measures such as ordering clubs to play in empty venues or deducting points.

In 2013 Dynamos were fined a total of $65 500 due to acts of hooliganism by their fans while Highlanders had a deduction of $26 550 from their earnings that same year.

Ndebele bemoaned lack of appreciation among football leaders on the need to continually act on violence, hence the PSL’s decision to embark on the campaign.

The PSL also erected an anti-xenophobia banner following outbreak of violence against foreign nationals in South Africa last month.

Ndebele said they had initially erected anti-violence banners at Barbourfields but will be taking them to other parts of the country.

“Football can be used as a tool to unite people hence we did not hesitate to come up with the anti-xenophobia banners as we sought to play our part in eradicating the violent acts,” he said.