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Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
THE Castle Lager Premier Soccer League has called on the police to arrest and charge perpetrators of violence at stadia following violence that broke out during and after the Highlanders-Caps United Bob 91 Super Cup semi- final match last Sunday in Bulawayo.

Hooligans caused a 12-minute stoppage of the game and after the referee Philani Ncube blew the final whistle, both sets of fans clashed outside Barbourfields Stadium with one Caps United fan identified as Tawedzerwa Moyo ending up in hospital.

A “sizeable” number of fans, according to police, were arrested and fined for their role in the scuffles.

Kennedy Ndebele, the PSL chief executive officer said police should not hesitate to arrest those who engage in violence during and after matches.

He said the PSL was worried by the increasing cases of violence at matches and delegates to the annual general meeting set for tomorrow in Harare were expected to come up with strategies of curbing violence.

“Police on their part should be ruthless when dealing with those few rowdy elements because not every football fan is violent,” said Ndebele.

He said since fans belong to clubs, the clubs should also play a role in ensuring that fans do not engage in violence.

The Premiership season is yet to start but three incidents of hooliganism at stadia have already been witnessed. The first was at Rufaro where Dynamos and Caps United fans pelted opposition players with missiles and last Saturday a section of FC Platinum supporters threw objects at an injured Sofapaka player. The worst violence was at Barbourfields Stadium last Sunday when Highlanders and Caps United supporters clashed.

Ndebele, a veteran administrator said hooligans were a threat to spectators that attend matches.

He warned violent supporters, saying PSL and Zifa had the authority to impose stiffer penalties other than fines.

“Other options include deduction of points in terms of Fifa disciplinary codes. If the issue of fines doesn’t work, the league and the football association have the authority to suspend a club from competitions, order them to play in an empty stadium or even bar them from using their stadium,” he said.

At one time Highlanders were forced to play in an empty stadium because of their fans’ unruly behaviour.

Bosso were also ordered to play in the morning.

It seems most clubs do not have mechanisms or capacity to control their supporters hence many of them rely on the police who most of the time are overwhelmed due to their limited numbers.

Meanwhile, it is at the annual general meeting where the league will announce the start of the 2015 season date.