he Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has fined Green Buffaloes Football Club K150, 000 for clobbering Power Dynamos supporters after a November league fixture in Kitwe.
ZANIS Sports reports that FAZ Disciplinary Committee said Green Buffaloes breached article 67.2 of the Disciplinary Code after the army side unilaterally imposed itself to control crowds at its match against Power Dynamos at Arthur Davies stadium on November 5 this year.
According to a disciplinary verdict issued by FAZ Communications Manager, Sydney Mungala, Green Buffaloes fans had no right to engage in crowd control measures at the football match as it was a preserve of the Zambia Police.
It is reported that GBFC supporters, alongside uniformed soldiers stormed the home fans area at Arthur Davies stadium and beat up Power Dynamos fans prompting Power management to petition FAZ over the incident.
In meting out the punishment, FAZ Disciplinary committee noted with regret that GBFC had a penchant for unruly behaviour as the army side had pulled off a similar stunt in a game against Nkana Football Club on November 7,2022 just days after the incident at Power Dynamos.
“The second respondent (Green Buffaloes FC) exhibited extreme aggravating elements. It is evident that its supporters accompanied by uniformed state soldiers walked from their allocated portion of the stadium to execute and occasion the beatings to the portion of the 1st respondent’s fans with what they have admitted as an act of ‘ ‘necessary evil’” reads part of the verdict.
GBFC has since been given seven days in which to pay the fine and warned the army sponsored side to desist from allowing uniformed personnel from engaging in any football related activity on match days.
FAZ General Secretary Adrian Kashala has urged clubs to always adhere to FAZ statutes in their management of matches even in the face of provocation.
“Let me thank the judicial bodies for their rapid adjudication of cases before them this season. It is a standard we intend to maintain in upholding the integrity of the game. We expect that clubs will be more compliant with the laws of the game and also football regulations to avoid falling foul of the law” said Kashala.