A ZIMBABWE Premier Soccer League referee – who was scheduled to give evidence implicating CAPS United players – failed to pitch up for the disciplinary hearing even though he had confirmed his presence two hours earlier.
The Bulawayo-based referee, who was said “to have lost his way” in Harare, was scheduled to give evidence against Ronald Chitiyo, Dominic Chungwa, Carlos Rusere and John Zhuwawo in a case in which they were facing charges of assaulting him.
In the absence of evidence implicating the accused, the PSL disciplinary committee found Chitiyo, Chungwa, Rusere and Zhuwawo not guilty, thereby acquitting them.
The match commissioner had earlier batted in the corner of the CAPS United players, saying she never witnessed any assault or intimidation.
Curiously, days before the judgment was handed down, CAPS United had paid ZWL$100 each as admission of guilt fines at Mzilikazi Police Station.
In so far as the PSL charge was concerned, allegations were that after the referee had blown his whistle to end the match between United and Chicken Inn, Chungwa and Zhuwawu incited other players to beat the match officials, pulling the referee by the neck and poking his right eye.
The referee had awarded a contentious penalty to Chicken Inn.
“The referee is reported to have said the CAPS United players became more violent as they had been joined by their team marshals, and taking the lead in that regard were Chitiyo and Rusere,” read part of allegations, adding: “When the players got to the dressing room entrance, they started assaulting Chicken Inn officials.”
In their defence, Chitiyo, Chungwa, Rusere and Zhuwawo said the referee was not touched or assaulted.
The accused claimed they escorted the match official to the dressing room, not because of any untoward conduct but merely out of caution to protect the referee from the disgruntled crowd, usually known for its missile throwing antics.
Football clubs officials who spoke to Zim Post Morning following the verdict said the situation in the PSL resembled an animal farm scenario, where some members are more important than others.
“There are untouchables in the league and there are also sacrificial lambs. TelOne were recently fined close to Z$30 000 when they denied the charge, but here we have players who admitted being guilty at a police station and paid fines but are said to be not guilty by the disciplinary committee,” said one club official.
Another club official said: “The big boys will always get away with it. Had it been a small team, the players could since have since been suspended from playing football and their clubs got heavy fines. How can a referee fail to attend a hearing? This is also a sign that these referees are being manipulated and this can also happen during matches and they end up deciding the outcome.”
