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Eddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter
ZIFA have castigated Zimbabwe international defender, Partson Jaure, saying he acted like a hooligan when he violently reacted in the wake of his controversial dismissal during Dynamos’ league match against Highlanders at Barbourfields on Sunday.
The association warned that such behaviour would not be tolerated and hinted that Jaure, or anyone who behaves in such a manner, could be outlawed from the game.
Jaure, angered by the referee’s decision to expel him after a clash with Njabulo Ncube, charged at Thabani Bamala only to be restrained by his teammates. Dynamos officials, notably coach Callisto Pasuwa and team manager Richard Chihoro, have come in full support of Jaure. Zifa yesterday issued a statement urging players and officials to respect the referees in football matches. The association’s communications manager, Xolisani Gwesela, said players should always abide by the laws of the game.
“Zifa would like to appeal to players, team officials, and fans to respect the decisions of referees,” said Gwesela.
“We would like to abundantly stress that REFEREES ARE UNTOUCHABLE. Law 5 of Fifa Laws of the Game provides: ‘the decisions of the referee regarding facts connected with play are final.’ Because of this, Zifa condemns in strongest terms any individual who attacks or demonstrates any violent behaviour against the referee.
“Furthermore, the association wants to stress that such behaviour is not only criminal but a wanton violation of Football statutes. Accordingly, the association will not hesitate to invoke football statutes to deal with such lawlessness. More so, we are working closely with our affiliate, the Premier Soccer League (PSL), to protect the image of our beautiful game from any form of violence.
“Hooligans have no place in our beautiful game.”
Meanwhile, Chihoro says their focus is on their remaining four league matches, beginning with the tricky away test in Triangle on Sunday.
Chihoro said they have suffered a lot of injustice at the hands of the match officials, which made it difficult for them to win away from Harare.
“We have been treated unfairly most of the times, especially in away games, and it appears there is a conspiracy against Dynamos,” said Chihoro.
“We have requested our office to write to PSL expressing our displeasure because we feel this situation is going out of hand.”
Chihoro felt Bamala erred when he sent off Jaure and also queried the booking of goal scorer Ocean Mushure late in the game after the DeMbare fullback was adjudged to have dived.
Television replays however showed that Mushure was impeded.
“I wouldn’t want to comment on the Partson Jaures’ issue but honestly how could he give both players red cards? Under normal circumstances Partson was not supposed to get a red card. He attacked the player on the ball and Njabulo retaliated, which was correct to give a red card to the Highlanders player. I had said it before the match that we feared the referees not Highlanders. How many times did he give wrong decisions against us? How many times did he allow Highlanders to play in offside positions?
“We were really lucky to survive the bad treatment because Highlanders could not capitalise on the unfair advantages they were given.
“One day don’t get surprised if we refuse to play one of these games. On Sunday we had actually decided not to go on to the pitch if Hardlife Ndadzi was given the whistle.
“We know for sure that this man has a strong hatred for Dynamos and will do everything to frustrate us whenever he is given the opportunity to officiate in our matches.”
Triangle coach Gishon Ntini yesterday warned that DeMbare may get the shock of their lives if they underrate his side.
Online Reporter