By NDINAWE SIMPELWE and SANDRA MWILA –
THE Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has strongly warned fans to refrain from disorderliness during international matches because the fines incurred are a huge cost on the association.
FIFA yesterday slapped FAZ with a fine of Swiss Francs (CHC) 7, 000 (about K69, 000) for crowd trouble during the match against Algeria played at Heroes National Stadium on September 2.
Also punished are Zambia’s opponents in this weekend Russia 2018 World Cup qualifier, Nigeria.
That was after fans threw various missiles on the pitch after striker Fashion Sakala was sent off for accumulating two yellow cards.
According to the FIFA website, Zambia was charged and warned for ‘improper conduct among spectators as per Articles 65 and 67 of the FDC FIFA Stadium Safety and Security Regulations.
FAZ communications manager Desmond Katongo, in an interview yesterday, expressed sadness with the development especially that the association had little resources.
Katongo called on fans to refrain from such behaviour because FAZ might be forced to take matches to the Copperbelt, a move which he said would not be good because the association wants all the two towns to host matches.
“As an association, we want to appeal to fans to exhibit exemplary behaviour during international games because this will be costly to the association. This money we have been fined could have been for other developmental programmes,” he said.
Meanwhile, FIFA hit Nigeria with a CHC 30,000 (about US$ 30,777) fine for their fans’ unruly behaviour after the Super Eagles’ 4-0 win over Cameroon at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium on September 1.
FIFA also warned Nigeria against future occurrences.
According to a statement on fifa.com, Nigeria violated article 65 and 67 of the FBC FIFA stadium safety and security regulations, and the Nigeria Football Federation was charged for improper conduct amongst spectators which included pitch invasions.