The Sunday Mail
Langton Nyakwenda
Sports Reporter
Violence by football fans has a well-documented history and a number of scholars have researched on causes and solutions to this age-old scourge.
The Guardian (UK) reported last week that pitch invasions by supporters caused trouble at Nottingham Forest, Northampton, Everton and Port Vale, as play-off fixtures and relegation battles ended, with players being targeted by fans.
It also reported that on Thursday a 30-year-old Nottingham Forest fan, Robert Biggs, was jailed for 24 weeks for running onto the pitch and head-butting Sheffield United’s Billy Sharp.
Everton fans also invaded the pitch at Goodison Park that same night after The Toffees’ dramatic come-from-behind 3-2 win over Crystal Palace, which ensured their safety from relegation.
Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira was caught on video kicking a fan who was taunting him.
Closer to home, in neighbouring South Africa, fan violence also has a storied history.
In one of the worst disasters to hit that country’s football, 43 people died and 158 were injured in a stampede during a 2001 Soweto Derby featuring Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates.
A commission of inquiry by then SA President Thabo Mbeki blamed inadequate training for stewards and lack of coordination between police and stadium management.
A number of findings largely blame violence at football matches to alcohol and drug abuse.
And those are some of the issues that dominated Friday’s indaba organised by the Premier Soccer League in Harare.
The meeting came after the abandonment of what was supposed to be a blockbuster fixture between Dynamos and Highlanders at Babourfields Stadium last weekend.
It came hard on the heels of disturbances at Mandava, where Highlanders fans caused the premature end of their team’s match against FC Platinum on April 23 by invading the pitch in the 82nd minute to protest a penalty awarded to the hosts by referee Kuzivakwamwari Jaravaza.
Pressed by the league’s title sponsor Delta Beverages to act on hooliganism, the PSL’s Emergency Committee temporarily stopped the league programme.
PSL chairperson Farai Jere insists suspending matches was necessary.
“We had all the stakeholders present and the attendance was amazing. We had the SRC (Sports and Recreation Commision), the Zimbabwe Republic Police; we had ZIFA (Zimbabwe Football Association), Delta Beverages representatives and security officers from the clubs.
“Referees were also represented,” said Jere.
“We want to make sure that everyone takes responsibility of what they are supposed to do.
“This is not a Dynamos or Highlanders issue. It (violence) happened in Mandava … So, it’s a culture that is now slowly developing in our football … Such lawlessness and anarchy is what we want to uproot.
“Our expectations are very clear: We want fans to come to watch matches in a safe environment. We are a football-loving nation and we need fans to watch matches knowing that they are safe.”
Apart from alcohol abuse, juju antics before kick-off, failure by referees to control volatile situations and delays at the entrance were cited as some of the major causes of violence.
Club security officers are also considered culpable.
Former Dynamos captain and Footballers Union of Zimbabwe president Desmond Maringwa believes players play a key role in managing fans.
“It should be noted that club captains also play a key role in managing tempers,” said Maringwa.
“During my days at Dynamos, when we played high-profile matches like the Harare Derby or Battle of Zimbabwe, captains played a key role.
“Most of the times, the referee of the day would have a short briefing with both captains before kick-off.”
However, he said players also had feelings and sometimes react in cases where they feel officials are against them.
Former Warriors coach Charles Mhlauri, who won back-to-back Premiership titles with CAPS United in 2004 and 2005, urged the PSL to ensure there are no sacred cows in the league.
“Cancelling games was an emotional decision that made Dynamos and Highlanders appear like they are bigger than the league, because if they have a case to answer, why not immediately drag them to a hearing, especially in these times when virtual meetings can be convened even on the night after the incident?
“It is high time clubs are held accountable and whoever is found guilty must face the music,” he said.
The former Warriors coach took a swipe at the ZIFA Referees Committee for not appointing the best officials to handle high-profile matches.
“During my times at Amazulu and later at CAPS United, we always knew that all the big games would be assigned to referees who had character to match the assignment.”
