PSL mum on Maglas violence

The PSL resolved at their annual meeting last month that they had stepped up efforts to curb hooliganism that was tarnishing the image of the local game.
That resolution by the league’s chiefs and their assembly of clubs immediately came up for scrutiny when once again it was Highlanders at the centre of the crowd trouble.

This season, there has already been ugly scenes of violence after the Bob ’89 Super Cup semi-final at Barbourfields, when Highlanders fans assaulted their Dynamos counterparts.

On Friday, Highlanders fans were once again guilty of assaulting Shabanie and FC Platinum fans on the eastern stand of Maglas. The fans were beaten for putting on their team colours.

Shabanie Mine were on top of the situation when trouble started after Masvingo referee Makonese Masakadza rightfully flashed a yellow card to Bosso newboy Knox Mutizwa for simulation in the 23rd minute.

Mutizwa wanted a penalty but the referee felt he had taken a dive and booked him, prompting the visitors’ supporters to engage in missile throwing.
The match had to be stopped for 22 minutes after missiles rained onto the pitch.

The missiles were mainly targeted at assistant referee Allen Parehwa, who had to flee the touchline and declined to go back fearing that the worst could happen.
It then degenerated into a war of stones between the Bosso and Shabanie Mine fans which left a number of fans injured among them an FC Platinum U-19 player, whose hands were cut by broken beer bottles during the melee.

PSL chief executive Kennedy Ndebele declined to comment yesterday insisting he would wait for the referees’ and police reports first.
“I am still to receive the match reports from the match officials and only when I have got those will I be in a position to comment,’ said Ndebele.
Highlanders chairman Peter Dube was forced to leave his VIP seat and had to appeal to the fans to stop the violence and he was joined by Mthulisi Maphosa and Smart Muchabayiwa a Shabanie Mine defender.

After the match the war continued as both set of fans fought running battles. Fans that were seen in Shabanie Mine colours were forced to board vehicles belonging to the Bosso fans and got a thorough hiding.

Although they are waiting for official reports, the PSL chiefs will be wondering how best they can stem the hooligan element in the game especially in an era when some of the top-flight games are now being beamed live on television to large parts of the continent on SuperSport 9.