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Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
HIGHLANDERS have been summoned to appear before a Premier Soccer League disciplinary committee next month over the behaviour of their fans during a league match against Chicken Inn at Barbourfields Stadium on August 14.

The hearing has been set for September 8 and the schedule of offences includes pitch invasion, missile throwing and violent conduct by their fans.

In summons issued yesterday, Highlanders are being charged in terms of Order 31; Acts of misconduct/ offences, which says it’s an act of misconduct when supporters misbehave in any manner whatsoever, inside or outside a ground before, during or after a match, no matter on which ground the match is played.

“Without derogating from the generality of what constitute misbehaviours on the part of supporters, the following are specifically declared to be acts of misbehaviour;

“Invasion or attempted invasion of the field of play, save for reasons of crowd safety, throwing or attempting to throw missiles, bottled and other objects whether potentially harmful or dangerous or not, on the pitch or at any person. Acts of violence or attempted acts of violence against anyone at the game,” reads the PSL summons.

The PSL preferred the charges following a report by the match commissioner which cited “supporters from the Soweto stand and mainly in Highlanders colours who started throwing missiles onto the pitch”.

“As the police moved in to try and control the situation, more missiles were thrown and the supporters then invaded the pitch throwing more missiles even at the police. Some supporters from the Eastern stand joined in the pandemonium forcing the police to retreat to the tunnels despite using dogs to scare away spectators. I saw one police officer lying on his back being attended to near the tunnel leading to the away team’s dressing rooms,” wrote the match commissioner.

Pitch invasion or missile throwing carries a $2 000 fine. This could further poke more holes in Highlanders’ empty coffers as the club is already heavily weighed down by a ballooning debt of over half a million dollars. – @skhumoyo2000