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Eddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter
THE Premier Soccer League has warned that FC Platinum and Hwange risk being summoned for taking football matters to the courts if they do not withdraw a case set to be heard at the courts in Zvishavane next week.
Hwange coach Nation Dube is set to appear at the courts on Monday following a brawl which erupted shortly before their match at Mandava last week.
Dube, who was summoned to police after their 3-2 win over the platinum miners, has been charged under Section 41 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23 (Conduct likely to provoke breach of peace) after engaging in an altercation with FC Platinum official Joseph Mususa.

The Hwange coach, however, is denying the charge.
PSL chief executive Kenny Ndebele said the league was not amused by the route the incident has taken since the league’s rules and regulations are against taking football matters to the courts of law.

“We received a report from FC Platinum last week that there was an incident prior to their match against Hwange which we are looking at,” said Ndebele.
“The normal procedure is that we summon the accused for a hearing. We don’t expect these issues to go to the civil courts, otherwise we will set a bad precedence.

“If they had waited, at least for one week, and then find out that the league was delaying in acting on their report, they still had another option to write straight to the chairman of the PSL.

“This is a mere football matter which can be resolved in a friendly manner. Football is about friendship and that is why we expect them to shake hands after every match.

“We have seen players engaging in strong tackles but afterwards they shake hands, which makes football the beautiful game. But that doesn’t mean we should condone ruthlessness or unsporting behaviour.”

The PSL spokesman expects the case to be withdrawn from the courts.
“I have spoken to FC Platinum and Hwange as well and we expect them to withdraw the case from the courts as soon as possible,” said Ndebele.

“In football we have rules and regulations which guide our operations and by joining the league you are saying you agree to abide by the standards.
“In fact, by participating in the league games, it means all the teams are accepting the rules.

“If it happens that the matter is taken to court we are going to summon both clubs to explain themselves because according to our own rules and regulations, football matters are not taken to court. It’s there in the new constitution.

“Why they have chosen that route I don’t know, maybe it had to do with emotions.
We learnt the docket was opened after the match when the tempers were still high.”

FC Platinum spokesperson Chido Chizondo yesterday indicated that her club was working on withdrawing the case from the courts.
“Obviously, we don’t expect such things to be happening in our football.

It was an unfortunate incident and it happened right in the presence of the police.
“We heard that Dube was acting in a provocative manner bent on causing violence and the police on the scene had to take action.
Dube is denying the allegations, of course.

Probably by Wednesday (today) we should have an update,” said Chizondo.