ASSISTANT referee in the Herentals/ Dynamos Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match on May 12, Kudzanai Hiya, has been handed a five-year ban and fined 100 000 Swiss francs (US$116 650) after being found guilty of match manipulation and corruption.
The match ended in a 1-1 deadlock, but Hiya was charged for receiving money from a Dynamos supporter to bend the results in favour of the Glamour Boys.
Despite denying the charges, he was, however, found guilty after a full trial.
Hiya was also charged for bringing the game of football, Zifa and match officials into disrepute for which he was handed a five-match ban.
Two charges of gross incompetence and failure to observe the principle of fair play which were preferred on Hiya were struck off.
The facts of the matter are such that: “. . . during a match between Dynamos FC and Herentals FC at Rufaro Stadium, a Dynamos supporter demanded US$400 from the match officials, alleging it was a bribe (sic). It was alleged that Kudzanai Hiya was the culprit behind the bribery incident having been given the money to warrant that Dynamos wins the match. This resulted in two goals scored by both teams being flagged offside by the respondent. There was public outcry as a result of these decisions, resulting in pitch invasions and throwing of missiles on the pitch.”
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According to the judgment by the Zifa disciplinary committee, after investigations by the Zifa Referees Committee, it was established that Hiya influenced the outcome of game by “. . . wantonly disallowing two goals for offside”.
“He accepted the bribe to ensure that Dynamos FC wins the match. The investigation, led by Brighton Mudzaniri, Wilfred Makuna, and Tapfumanei Mutengwa, concluded that the respondent’s conduct in relation to the charges was significant,” the Zifa Referees Committee said.
“The investigation concluded that the respondent was the culprit in the manipulation of a football match which ensued as a result of a bribe he was given by a Dynamos FC supporter, which brought the game of football, Zifa and match officials into disrepute.”
Referee of the day, Tichaona Mbire, was acquitted of all charges and has been re-instated to the Zifa referees’ panel.
In an unrelated matter, the Zifa Referees Committee immediately suspended referees Cecil Gwezwere and his assistant Zondzi Ngosana from the panel following the abandoned Chibuku Super Cup quarter-final match between Simba Bhora and Highlanders and Wadzanayi Stadium on September 22.
Simba Bhora were awarded what appeared like a dubious penalty towards the end of the match, which the Highlanders players’ protested and the spot-kick was not taken until Gwezere blew the whistle to end the match.
Highlanders have been arraigned to appear before a Premier Soccer League tribunal for causing the abandonment of that match and they have pleaded not guilty.
The matter awaits judgment.