By MICHAEL MIYOBA
THE Football Association of Zambia FAZ Disciplinary Committee has handed a five match ban to Nchanga Rangers fans for the violent conduct during a Week Six MTN Super League match played on October 1 at Nchanga Stadium against Nkana Football Club.
According to the FAZ Disciplinary Committee Nchanga Rangers fans breached Article 67 of the FAZ Disciplinary Code when they attacked and stoned Nkana FC bus and injured some players who had to seek medical attention.
The Nchanga Rangers supporters who also threw an assortment of missiles on the pitch during the match against Nkana FC will now miss the next five home games at Nchanga Stadium in Chingola.
“The respondent (Nchanga Rangers) is in breach of Article 67 of the FAZ Disciplinary Code and in accordance with Article 12, immediately sanctioned to play five (5) home MTN Super matches without supporters
“The respondent (Nchanga Rangers) being in breach of Article 67 of the FAZ Disciplinary Code, is further sanctioned in accordance with Article 15 of the FAZ DC Code, K50, 000 which is to be paid to FAZ within seven days from receipt of this ruling, “reads part of the verdict.
FAZ General Secretary Adrian Kashala said FAZ passed its verdict based on the Referees’ Report and the provisions of Article 67.
He said the decision on the attacks on the Nkana bus and the injury to a player in the aftermath of the match would be dealt with once a police report on the matter was accessed as some of the elements of the incident fell outside football jurisdiction.
“The committee takes cognisance of the damage to property (Nkana FC bus) and injury to a player of Nkana FC. However, due to insufficient evidence adduced in so far as perpetrators and place of occurrence of the alleged violence leading to the damage and injury, the committee was unable to render its ruling. The Disciplinary Committee has requested that it is furnished with a Zambia Police report with proof that the attacks were committed within the premises of the home side (Nchanga Rangers FC) and persons purported to be supporters of Nchanga Rangers,” reads excerpts of the judgment.
“Nkana are therefore required to present a Zambia Police report of the bus attack and injuries occasioned on the player incident upon which FAZ shall assess the jurisdiction of the matter whether it falls within matters to be dealt with by the Zambia Police or within the mandate of the football judicial bodies which is within the premises of the home side Nchanga Stadium.”
The Association has confirmed that Nchanga Rangers have the right to appeal the decision within 72 hours of receipt of the judgment.
