Blue Aces hauled before ANLFA DC over alleged assault of ref
ALEXANDRA - Blue Aces are hauled before the Disciplinary Committee of the Alexandra Northrand Local Football Association to answer charges of assaulting an assistant referee.
Blue Aces will face disciplinary action for the alleged involvement of the club’s supporters and some technical staff in the assault of an assistant referee.
The fracas followed the awarding of a disputed penalty to Malandela Mighty Heroes in a match at the Alexandra Stadium on 5 August. Mighty Heroes won the match 3–0, two of the goals coming from penalties. When the referee blew for full time, Aces supporters and technical staff invaded the pitch and allegedly assaulted the assistant referee.
This was the second incident in a week that violence had broken out in a soccer match in Alex. On 29 July, a fight broke out between players of DRA FC and Malandela Mighty Heroes when the technical staff of Mighty Heroes refused to hand over soccer balls to be used in the match. This after Mighty Heroes coach Buti Phiri insisted that DRA also provide balls for the game.
A DRA player then went through the bags of Heroes players in search of a match ball which sparked a fight between players of both teams. Phiri and his goalkeeper were given red cards by the referee. Alexandra Northrand Local Football Association secretary general Mafika Morajane said Aces would be charged with assaulting the assistant referee, bringing the association into disrepute and for failing to control their supporters and officials from running onto the pitch to manhandle referees.
An official of Aces, Aaron Mavuso and an unidentified woman, have been told to be present at the hearing on 16 August at 6pm at the association’s offices at the Alexandra Stadium.
On the matter concerning DRA and Mighty Heroes, Morajane said they were still studying the report of the referee and a decision would be taken once that had been completed.
Morajane also pointed that people who sit on the disciplinary committee which deals with such hearings were outsiders and not involved in any way with football or the clubs. “They are independent people that we always use whenever there are issues that require their services,” he said.
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