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pre-mature ending to their game against Gunners at Rufaro and insisted last night that the top-flight body would come down hard on Makepekepe.

CAPS United will be summoned to appear before a PSL disciplinary hearing to answer charges of bringing the game into disrepute following the conduct by their fans which was an ugly advertisement for a game that has been struggling to attract corporate partners.

Gunners were leading 2-0 when Harare referee Ruzive Ruzive was forced to call off the match in the 68th minute against the background of a volley of missiles that were raining from stands housing CAPS United fans.

EARLIER REPORT

• Violent CAPS United

It is the first time this season that a Premiership match has ended prematurely due to crowd trouble.
Phiri – who is also the CAPS United president and tried unsuccessfully to persuade the hooligans among the club’s fans to stop raining missiles onto the pitch – was last night talking tough and insisted the league would not have any sacred cows in cracking the whip.

“When I went to try and ask the supporters to cool down, I was wearing both my CAPS United and PSL hats.
“But today, I am speaking from the Premier Soccer League point of view and wearing my hat as the PSL chairman and I want to make it very clear that no one is bigger than football.
“As PSL we are going to take stern action against CAPS United because every club is responsible for the behaviour of its fans.

“Even if my son Ishmael had been involved in that kind of untoward behaviour that we saw on Sunday, I would have still taken the kind of tough action that we are promising as PSL,” Phiri said.
Phiri said the domestic game was crying out for more fans, especially given that most of the teams in the league rely heavily on gate revenue and the PSL boss said they would not let the hooligan element prevail in driving away genuine fans.

“Football should remain what it has always been known to be that is a family outing where one comes with his wife, sons and daughters or with his brothers and sisters.
“It should not be a place where people fear to come. I also want to urge all football fans that when they go to matches they should come prepared for any of three results which is a draw, a win or a loss.
“No-one who really loves football should come to the stadium to only demand a win by his or her team. Such people do not have a place in our football and we want to warn them that even the arm of the law will catch up with them very soon,” Phiri said.

Tempers among CAPS United fans started simmering in the first half when veteran defender David Sengu – in a moment of madness – elbowed a Gunners player in an off-the-ball incident which had escaped Ruzive’s attention, but not that of his first assistant.
After initially escaping with a verbal caution, Sengu saw red after the referee had consulted with his assistant.
It then got worse for CAPS United when a second defender, Edmore Chafungamoyo, was expelled for a second bookable offence.

Moses Chunga’s Gunners had taken the lead through Leonard Fiyado when Sengu was expelled and the young forward doubled his tally moments after Chapfungamoyo had been sent for an early shower.
PSL chief executive Kenny Ndebele said they have already received Ruzive’s report.
“CAPS United will be summoned to appear before a disciplinary committee. The referee’s report and the match commissioners’ report have been submitted.

“Now we are awaiting a report from the police before CAPS United can be called to appear before a disciplinary committee who will also determine the outcome of the match,” said Ndebele.
But Phiri, eager to nip hooliganism in the bud and protect the image of the league which has been branded by Castle Lager, has already warned CAPS United to brace themselves for a hefty penalty.

As the club braces for the PSL sanctions CAPS United chief executive Maxwell Mironga also weighed in with his voice of condemnation for the actions by some of their fans.
Mironga said CAPS United would not condone hooliganism and is aware that their actions could attract a hefty penalty from the league’s disciplinary committee.

“We are amazed by the behaviour of some of our fans.
“I just do not know what we should do for them.

“Emotions can come but it was unfortunate they resorted to throwing missiles,” said Mironga.
Mironga, however, reckoned that police details at the game should “have been more proactive in dealing with the situation.

“I think the police should have gone into crowd when the first missiles were thrown and maybe picked out the suspects.
“That move could have deterred the fans but that was not done,” said Mironga.

While the police failed to deter the throwing of the missiles, the law enforcers managed to drive the CAPS United fans away from the stadium.
Mironga said his club “had done everything adequate” in their power to provide security through police and their club marshals.

“I think the police were adequate but I did not have the figures of how many came but it should be around 60.
“I will check on that,” said Mironga.

CAPS United Supporters Association national chairman Abraham Kawadza also condemned the violent conduct by the club’s supporters.
“I think our supporters overreacted to the situation but we also have to look at all the factors that led to the disturbances and abandonment of this match.

“Obviously, we were disappointed that we were losing but our position remains that we don’t condone violence of any form at our football matches.
“It was unfortunate but our supporters should learn to accept whatever decisions the referees make in execution of their duties.

“It was wrong that they reacted that way even though it appears the referee had been harsh on our team.
“Most of his decisions were questionable and the red cards were too much for us. This put the supporters in a corner,” said Kawadza.

There was more drama in the stands as the CAPS United and Dynamos rivalry became apparent even before their Derby clash this coming Sunday.
After Fiyado had scored the opener in the 32nd minute, CAPS United fans had assaulted a Dynamos fan who had celebrated the goal in the northern stand.

Dynamos fans who were in the Vietnam stand retaliated by attacking CAPS United fans who were in the area.
In May, police fired canisters to disperse a rowdy element of the CAPS United supporters who were baying for the head of then coach Chunga after their side fell to Hwange in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at the National Sports Stadium.

Meanwhile, the semi-final draw for the BancABC Sup8r will be held tomorrow.
BancABC marketing executive Desmund Ali said the draw will be held at the Trade Fair Grounds in Bulawayo.
Four teams – holders Dynamos, Shabanie, Motor Action and Highlanders will go into the hat.