By SHAMAOMA MUSONDA –
THE Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) Disciplinary Committee has banned an assistant referee from Solwezi, 14 players and some officials for one year from all football activities in separate incidents.
Of the 14 players handed with one-year suspensions, seven of them were from a FAZ Division-Two league game in Eastern Province involving Chipata Municipal Council and Sky-Go.
It is understood that chaos broke out after Chipata Municipal Council scored in injury time of the Week 24 match, prompting Sky-Go players to challenge the decision and in the process attacked the match official causing the abandonment.
That decision saw the committee suspending Redson Mbewe, Brian Phiri, Penias Daka, Simon Phiri, David Tembo and two officials Eddy Njobvu and Cosam Zyambo for a year for the attack on the referee.
The FAZ Disciplinary Committee headed by acting chairperson Gerald Mweene also awarded three points to Chipata Municipal Council.
Another case with multiple suspensions saw three players and a coach from Kawama Hotspurs get a one-year ban each for attacking a referee.
The referee was attacked after he allegedly allowed an 89th minute goal by Mumbwa Pirates stand which Kawama believed it came from an off side position.
As a result, Mweene said Kawama coach Joseph Katebe and the players Danny Banda, Allan Kapya and Mulala Chola have been banned for one year each with immediate effect while the club was fined K5, 000 for causing the abandonment and accrued 150 penalty points.
In Chinsali, Sydney Chisanga refused to walk out of the pitch after he was red-carded in the 40th minute and ended up causing an abandonment after he clobbered the referee, who kept insisting that he leaves the ground to allow the match to continue.
Chisenga was banned for a year with his side Mpika United fined K5, 000 while three points were awarded to the home side, Chinsali Super Stars.
Still in Muchinga Province, Division Two side, Isoka Young Stars official Kabamba Mulenga was also suspended for a year.
Mulenga was suspended for storming the pitch in the second half and attacked an assistant referee for flagging for a penalty in a game away to Riverside FC.
The other case saw visiting Solwezi Eagles’ player Bibusa Byela punch the referee in anger after he awarded a penalty to Zesco Solwezi, landing himself a year’s ban as his team attracted a K5, 000 fine.
Meanwhile, in a rare decision against a match official, the FAZ Disciplinary Committee handed a one-year suspension on assistant referee only identified as C. Phiri for his unsporting behaviour after walking out of a game he was officiating after 62 minutes of play.
Phiri is reported to have walked out off a FAZ Division Two Week-20 match between Solwezi United and Manyama after he failed to stomach insults from young foul-mouthed spectator.
The committee also ordered that the match between Solwezi United and Manyama be replayed on a yet to be advised date.
The referee’s report stated that Phiri was infuriated by a small boy who challenged his decision with a verbal assault and in anger, refused to continue officiating the match and opted to walk off in fury.
“The game was abandoned in 62nd minute when a small boy insulted the First Assistant Referee who refused to continue officiating the game. Mr Phiri has since been suspended for one year for causing the game to be abandoned,” Mweene said.