ZIMSPHERE
HARARE – In a stunning turn of events following the chaotic Chibuku Cup quarter-final match between Highlanders and Simba Bhora, Highlanders Football Club has levelled serious match-fixing accusations; claiming the match was deliberately manipulated.
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| The melee that resulted from the clash between Simba Bhora and Highlanders following the controversial penalty decision. [Image: Libertino] |
The club is now calling for a replay of the fixture, which was abandoned in the 79th minute after a contentious penalty decision in favour of Simba Bhora.
The match, held at Wadzanai Stadium in Shamva, had been a highly anticipated encounter, but it ended in disarray when Highlanders' captain and goalkeeper, Ariel Sibanda, refused to return to his position following the penalty decision.
The decision came after a brief stoppage due to disturbances in the stands.
Referee Cecil Ngwezere blew the final whistle after a 30-minute stalemate, leaving the match unfinished and tensions high.
The controversy erupted when Ngwezere awarded a penalty to Simba Bhora for an incident that, according to television replays, occurred outside the box. The decision came just two minutes after play had resumed following a five-minute stoppage caused by disturbances in the stands.
Highlanders players, visibly frustrated, protested the decision, which they believe was not made in accordance with the laws of the game.
The ZIFA Referees Committee has since suspended both Ngwezere and Ngosana, pending further investigation. Meanwhile, both Highlanders and Simba Bhora have been fined $6,000 each for their roles in the chaotic events that led to the abandonment of the match. Despite the fines, Highlanders maintain that the focus should be on the alleged misconduct of the officials.
According to the Sunday Mail, Highlanders have taken their grievances to the Premier Soccer League (PSL) disciplinary committee, submitting a dossier that accuses the match officials of orchestrating a result in favor of Simba Bhora.
The club denies any wrongdoing in the abandonment of the match and instead holds the referees—Cecil Ngwezere and his assistant Zondzi Ngosana—responsible.
In their statement to the PSL, Highlanders did not mince words, describing the match as a premeditated injustice.
"Wadzanai Stadium in Shamva was a crime scene on the 22nd of September 2024. The victims were Highlanders Football Club and football in general," the club wrote.
They further alleged that the match officials, including the fourth official, were complicit in ensuring a Simba Bhora victory.
"The known perpetrators of the crime were the match officials, in particular the referee, one assistant referee, and the fourth official. The madness must end," Bosso declared, urging the disciplinary committee to rectify what they view as a significant breach of sporting ethics.
Highlanders have made a strong case for a replay, asserting that the original match was not conducted in accordance with the rules of football. Citing a ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) involving Burkina Faso, South Africa, Senegal, and Cape Verde, the club argued that when a match is influenced by factors outside the realm of fair play, it is only just to order a rematch.
"If it has been established that the outcome of a match has been influenced in a manner contrary to sporting ethics because the match was fixed, it’s reasonable to say that it was the duty of the organising committee to manage the situation," Highlanders stated.
They contend that allowing the result to stand would be antithetical to the principles of Fair Play, giving an undue advantage to the team that benefitted from the controversial decisions.
"The decision of the referee is final if it is made in terms of the laws of the game," Highlanders concluded, "but when phantom decisions are made in favor of one team, the decision cannot be final."
Time will tell whether the PSL agrees with Bosso’s impassioned plea.
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