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Sports Reporter
ZIFA has issued a strong warning against attacking referees’ following Sunday’s nasty incident during the highly charged Highlanders-Dynamos Premiership match at Barbourfields Stadium that saw DeMbare defender Patson Jaure attempt to hit referee Thabani Bamala after being shown a red card.
The national team defender had to be restrained by teammates as he furiously charged towards Bamala, apparently incensed by the match official’s decision to send him off in the 30th minute following a clash with Highlanders’ Njabulo Ncube who had unnecessarily retaliated to Jaure’s challenge.
Ncube was also given his marching orders meaning that the two players will now miss their respective teams’ next two league matches.
Jaure will miss Dynamos’ away match against Triangle and the home fixture to Shabanie Mine while Highlanders will have to do without their seasoned striker for their away trip to Motor Action and against Triangle at home.
In a statement issued by communications manager Xolisani Gwesela, Zifa condemned violence towards referees and said they are closely working with their affiliate (PSL) to protect the image of the game.
“Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) would like to appeal to players, team officials, and fans to respect the decisions of referees. 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,” reads part of the statement.
The national football mother body said hooligans have no place in soccer.
From the look of things, Jaure might pay dearly for his actions on Sunday as he is likely to miss the remainder of the season should the PSL decide to extend his suspension for his awful behaviour.
Jaure has been the pillar of defence at the defending champions, also managing to get crucial goals for Dynamos to make sure that they stay in the championship race.
Premier Soccer League chief executive officer Kennedy Ndebele said they would issue a statement on Jaure’s incident this morning.
“A statement will be sent out tomorrow morning (today) as we are still going through the referee’s report,” Ndebele said.
Speaking to our Harare Bureau, Dynamos’ secretary general Webster Chikengezha said they have since talked to the player and warned him against his emotional behaviour although they are not quite happy with the referee’s decision to red card him.
“Obviously we don’t condone the behaviour. That was really uncalled for and we told the player that we don’t expect that at Dynamos and we wouldn’t want that to happen again.
“If you are a player and it happens that you get red carded you just have to walk away because it’s the referee’s decision even if you feel you didn’t deserve that,” said Chikengezha.
Dynamos went on to win the game 1-0 courtesy of a late strike from the penalty spot by Ocean Mushure.
Online Reporter