Government warns Chiyangwa over dubious decisions

Zimbabwe Football Association president, Phillip Chiyangwa

GOVERNMENT, through the Ministry of Sport and Recreation Commission has urged Philip Chiyangwa not to take football laws into his own hands but uphold the principles of the game.

Following the ugly scenes that degenerated into a scuffle at Rufaro stadium on Sunday, COSAFA and ZIFA president Dr Philip Chiyangwa was quick to rescind Christian Epoupa’s red card he was awarded for headbutting Petr Muduwa.

The decision has since sparked outrage among the football fraternity leaving the government at the mercy of weighing in to resolve the despute.

‘’ . . . the Minister (of Sport and Recreation) urges all sport administrators who may be involved in dispute resolution to take decisions that do not weaken established enabling structures within the sport and recreation sector,’’ Sport and Recreation Minister Makhosini Hlongwane said in a statement.

‘’In view of the above, in resolving differences, contestations and protestations that may arise out of sport games, sport administrators are urged to make decisions which inspire confidence to umpires, referees, club executives, sponsors, as well as athletes who are the most important resource of the sport and recreation sector.

‘’The Ministry of Sport and Recreation expresses utmost concern on the continued perpetration of violence in football. To this end, the Minister of Sport and Recreation condemns in the strongest of terms the violence by some spectators and athletes at the Dynamos Highlanders match played on 10 September, 2017 at Rufaro Stadium in Harare.’

It remains to be seen if Epoupa will take part in the Sunday’s clash between Dynamos and CAPS United at Rufaro stadium. – sportbrief.co.zw