THE Northern Region Division One Soccer League (NRSL) feels vindicated after the Zifa Appeals Committee found Karoi United responsible for causing the abandonment of their league match against Scottland and upheld the earlier ruling of awarding the latter three points on a 3-0 scoreline.
Having heard the appeal by Karoi United, the Zifa Appeals Committee delivered its ruling yesterday, which confirmed Scottland as the 2024 champions.
Scottland have gained promotion to the Premier Soccer League after finishing two points ahead of MWOS FC.
MWOS were hoping that the Appeals Committee would overturn the decision by the league’s disciplinary committee and either adjudged the match to have ended on 1-1 scoreline or force the two teams to play the remaining eight minutes.
The match was abandoned after the referee failed to continue claiming he had beeen struck “by a hard object” on the groin by a Karoi United supporter.
“We have taken note of the decision of the Zifa Appeals Committee in reference to the abandoned match between Karoi United FC and Scottland FC,” the NRSL said in a statement yesterday.
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The NRSL had come under fire over the verdict, having been accused of having unfairly treated Karoi to aid Scottland to the title and prejudice MWOS.
“The Appeals Committee upheld the decision of the NRSL disciplinary committee, wherein Karoi United FC was found guilty for causing the abandonment of the match, and consequently the match was awarded to Scottland FC on a 3-0 scoreline,” the NRSL said.
“This judgement is a vindication of our disciplinary committee. We are of the firm belief that the decision is in line with all known football rules and regulations and in the spirit of fair play.
“We hope that this will bring closure to the issue and that henceforth, our members and stakeholders will move forward and prepare for the forthcoming season. We thank you all for your patience and understanding during this entire process.”
Karoi United were initially charged with “Contravention of Section D2 (2.1) of the Northern Region Soccer League Rules and Regulations”.
The charge was put out as follows: “In that on September 15, 2024 at Chikangwe Stadium in Karoi, the accused being a participant in a league football match against Scottland FC team, allegedly committed acts of misconduct which brought the game of football into disrepute, through supporters who threw missiles in the field of play and assaulted the match referee Matthew Dingo on the groin area.
“As a consequence of the alleged violent conduct by the accused’s supporters, the environment became toxic and unsafe for the match to continue and the match was resultantly abandoned.”
The disciplinary committee learnt that: “He (Matthew Dingo) said at the 82nd minute of play, accused’s goalkeeper feigned injuries as a way of employing delaying tactics. The scoreline was Karoi United FC 1:1 Scottland FC. That he had previously given the Karoi FC goalkeeper several verbal warnings as he had severally employed delaying tactics.
“At this time, the keeper laid down and removed his gloves and foot wear. That he approached the said goalkeeper wielding a yellow card. While interacting with the goal keeper standing about two metres from the latter, he says he was hit on his groin area by a hard object. That a second one hit his sheen and it bled. That some other missiles were thrown in his direction.
“He did not see exactly what hit him as he was in extreme pain. He was later assisted to get up by his assistants and the match commissioner. He went to the changing rooms and there he was attended to by the medics from both teams. He says he sustained a bruise on his sheen and was swollen on the groin.”
Match commissioner Kanzvimbo Kanzvimbo said the match could not continue because the environment was not safe.