The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has taken note of the various crowd trouble incidences in the Week Four round of matches in the Super League.
FAZ has been particularly drawn to happenings at Shinde Stadium on Saturday where Kansanshi Dynamos fans and officials were allegedly attacked in the aftermath of their team’s 2-0 win over Mufulira Wanderers.
The Nkana technical bench was also on the receiving end of missiles from unruly fans at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium as Forest Rangers led 1-0.
In the wake of these two incidents, FAZ has warned that it operates on a zero tolerance mantra to hooliganism and will deal with the involved parties sternly.
General Secretary Adrian Kashala says FAZ will not tolerate any form of hooliganism that may take back the good image that the Zambian game has been enjoying over time.
“FAZ has learnt with sadness the incidences of violence and hooliganism that happened over the weekend. We will not tolerate such acts in the game and will deal with the perpetrators with the full mighty of our rules and regulations,” Kashala stated.
“It is our desire to send a very strong message to all the clubs that there will be no room for lawlessness in our game. Football is firmly anchored on the rules of fair play.”
Kashala says the acts of violence have the potential to scare away possible sponsors and ordinary soccer fans from stadia.
“Relevant bodies of FAZ will take relevant actions against the erring parties. We also wish to reiterate our directive to ban sale of bottled drinks at stadia. Failure to enforce this ban by the host club will result in sanctions by,” he says.