Four men have been arrested following violent clashes between supporters that led to the abandonment of a Premier Soccer League match between Hardrock FC and D...
Four men have been arrested following violent clashes between supporters that led to the abandonment of a Premier Soccer League match between Hardrock FC and Dynamos FC at Chahwanda Stadium in Kwekwe on Sunday.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirmed the arrest of Shingirai Chivavare, 34, Matthias Taderera, 43, Tavakuda Nyoni, 46, and Emmanuel Dube, 50, after violence erupted during the match.
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The game was abandoned in the 80th minute after supporters from both teams allegedly threw missiles at each other before invading the pitch and engaging in physical confrontations. The disturbances forced match officials to prematurely end the fixture.
At the time the match was stopped, the two sides were tied 1-1. Tensions reportedly escalated following a disputed penalty awarded to Hardrock, which resulted in the home team scoring an equaliser.
Police said seven supporters were injured during the disturbances and were taken to Kwekwe General Hospital for treatment. Authorities confirmed that the injured fans were admitted in stable condition.
The violence also resulted in damage to stadium infrastructure, including turnstiles and perimeter barricades at Chahwanda Stadium.
Investigations are now underway into how nearly 5,000 supporters who failed to gain entry into the stadium later forced their way into the venue. Authorities believe the overcrowding may have contributed to the violence inside the stadium.
The Premier Soccer League Zimbabwe said it was waiting for reports from match officials before making further decisions on the matter. The league also instructed both clubs to submit written reports detailing the events that occurred during the match.
In a statement, the PSL warned that individuals or clubs found guilty of misconduct would face penalties provided under league regulations.
Police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi urged football clubs and match organisers to improve crowd management systems to avoid similar incidents in future.
Nyathi called on clubs to enforce stadium seating limits and adopt pre-sold ticketing systems to reduce overcrowding and prevent possible stampedes during high-profile matches.
The ZRP also said it would engage the PSL and the Zimbabwe Football Association to prioritise stadium administration and public safety measures ahead of upcoming fixtures.
“The public is warned against engaging in violence, vandalism or any form of public disorder, as offenders will be dealt with in accordance with the law,” Nyathi said.
The incident has once again raised concerns over crowd control and security management at local football matches, particularly during high-attendance fixtures involving major clubs.
