The Zimbabwe Football Association has released a statement on the violence occurred at Maglas Stadium during a Chibuku Super Cup quarter final game between Shabanie Mine and CAPS United.

The match was abandoned in the 65th minute after the assistant referee was injured by a flying missile. The fans were protesting the referee’s decision to disallow a goal scored by CAPS United.

The statement reads:

The Zimbabwe Football Association has noted with great concern, the perpetual violent disturbances occurring during premier Soccer League matches.

The association condemns in strongest terms, ghastly scenes of violence which have sadly culminated in abandonment of matches, the latest being the Chibuku Super Cup quarter final between Shabanie Mine and Caps United.

The association hereby orders Premier Soccer League clubs to seek lasting solutions to the recurring problem of fan violence and premature end of matches. All-stakeholder workshops to educate all members of the football family about violence and laws of the game can help reduce disturbances during matches.
Premier Soccer League clubs and all football stakeholders, including the police, should work tirelessly to eradicate all forms of hooliganism. It is the duty of the clubs to ensure that matches are violence free for the benefit of the paying public.

All Premier Soccer League clubs are warned to desist from interfering with ZIFA operations and should respect the Association’s standing committees. It is the ZIFA technical development committee that has the duty of licensing coaches , players and administrators and thus all disciplinary issues concerning coaches are, and should be handled by the association’s relevant judicial bodies, and not the league. The ZIFA Competitions committee has the prerogative of sanctioning and monitoring all football competitions. The ZIFA referees committee presides over all referees matters .Premier Soccer League officials are therefore mandated to respect and observe football protocol.