Mandava Stadium Violence Shocks Mapeza
FC Platinum coach Norman Mapeza said that he was shocked by the violence which erupted at Mandava Stadium on Saturday, 23 April, during the Castle Lager Premiership match between the champions and Highlanders.
The scoreline was 1-1 when the referee, Kuzivakwamwari Jaravaza, awarded FC Platinum a controversial penalty in the final 10 minutes of the second half.
Various media reports claim the penalty shouldn’t have been given as video replays showed that the contact between Highlanders defender Peter Muduhwa and FC Platinum striker Walter Musona was not only minimal but also happened outside the penalty area.
Highlanders fans responded by invading the pitch and police fired teargas to disperse the fans resulting in the abandonment of the match.
Mapeza said he had no comment on the penalty incident or the resultant crowd trouble and the firing of teargas by the police. He said:
I have nothing to say, you all saw what happened, I have no comment on anything.
I’m still in shock from what happened, it’s very bad for such a great spectacle to be abandoned in such a manner.
It was very bad, people could have died on Saturday and it’s sad for our football, this has to stop.
The fate of the game is still to be decided by the Premiership leadership, with Highlanders facing possible sanctions.
