Police have arrested four people following violent scenes that marred the Premier Soccer League clash between Hardrock FC and Dynamos FC at Chahwanda Stadium in Kwekwe, an incident that left seven supporters injured and forced the match to be abandoned.
The disturbances erupted during the second half of the fixture, prompting officials to call off the match after the 80th minute as clashes broke out among supporters.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police identified the suspects as Shingirai Chivavare (34), Matthias Taderera (43), Tavakuda Nyoni (46) and Emmanuel Dube (50), who were arrested in connection with acts of violence and public disorder.
According to police, supporters from both sides allegedly threw missiles at each other before some invaded the pitch, leading to confrontations inside the stadium.
Seven injured supporters were taken to Kwekwe General Hospital, where they were admitted in stable condition.
Authorities also reported damage to stadium facilities, including perimeter barricades and turnstiles.
Police are investigating reports that nearly 5,000 supporters were still outside the stadium when the match had already begun. Some are alleged to have forced their way into the venue, worsening the disorder.
Related Stories
National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi said investigations were underway to establish how such a large number of supporters remained outside despite the game being in progress.
"The Zimbabwe Republic Police is investigating the circumstances which led to nearly 5,000 soccer fans remaining outside the stadium during the time the match started," he said.
"The fans contributed to the violence scenes inside the stadium."
The incident has reignited concerns over crowd control, ticketing systems and security arrangements at high-profile football matches.
Commissioner Nyathi urged football authorities to improve safety measures, including controlling attendance numbers and ensuring tickets are sold in advance.
"The police urges soccer authorities to ensure stadium seating capacity is not exceeded and tickets are pre-sold before the match to curtail stampedes such as the one witnessed before the match at Chahwanda Stadium," he said.
He also warned supporters against engaging in violence and vandalism at sporting events, saying offenders would face legal action.
Police said they would engage football authorities to strengthen stadium management systems and improve public safety at future matches.
Leave Comments