Scottland have inched closer to promotion into the Premier Soccer League after they were awarded maximum points in their abandoned Northern Region Division One match against Karoi United last month.
Resultantly Scottland climbed to the top of the table two points ahead of second placed Mwos with one game to go having been awarded the match on a 3-0 scoreline.
Karoi United were found of failing to control their supporters and also failing to provide enough security in the match which was stopped eight minutes from time after the referee was struck by a missile.
The referee could not continue with the match after he was struck by a "hard object on one of his testicles."
Karoi United did not dispute that one of their supporters struck the referee but argued that the centre man was struck by a match ball.
The match commissioner also reported that the match officials had to rush to the changing rooms as missiles rained.
The Disciplinary Committee noted; "That it (Karoi United) had the responsibility to ensure adequate security. That accused had an obligation to manage its fans but failed. That since the accused caused the abandonment of the match, the match must be given to the visiting team at a 3-0 scoreline."
It was also established that Karoi United caused delay in the conclusion of the matter constantly seeking postponements.
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The league’s regulations state that;
“Where a match is abandoned because of the conduct of one team or its club members, the board shall be empowered to award the match to the opponents and fine them in accordance with the Fines Tariff. Where abandonment is caused by the conduct of either teams or their club members the board will take such action as they consider appropriate and both shall be fined in accordance with the Fines Tariff.”
Deduction of points can be instituted as one of the punitive measures.
"...the determination stood that the assault came from Karoi United’s fans. The evidence on the source of assault was clearly corroborated by all witnesses.
As we had found that the match was abandoned as a result of the club’s conduct, we can only apportion the blame on Karoi United at this moment," the committee noted.
"As a result of the abandonment caused on the match, and the absence of blame proven as against the visiting team, the abandonment of the match must result in Karoi United losing points. The regulations support this approach. We find that the the game must be awarded to Scotland FC at the scoreline of 3-0 in favor of Scotland FC. There is no reference to regulations which permit any other approach save the reference provided above.
In any event, it will be prejudicial to the innocent party were it to be made to carry the blame of the guilty team. To bring sanity in the field of play and outside, it is important that we communicate the position of the regulations as made above.
We are of the view that this penalty will ensure that future incidences do not occur of this nature in the protection of the game of football."
