Highlanders vs Simba Bhora match in the Chibuku Super Cup quarter-finals was abandoned because Highlanders protested Simba Bhora’s penalty during the second half. The stalemate ended with a quarter of the 90 minutes still to be played.
According to Soccer 24 website; “The match official gave a foul after Tinashe Balakasi was brought down inside the box. Highlanders felt the referee’s call was biased, and they left the pitch before the penalty was taken.”
A penalty in the 75th minute is potentially decisive by about 75% interestingly. The chances it will be converted depends on who takes it, who is in goal and home advantage among other factors. Matt Le Tissier of Southampton in England had a 98% success rate with penalties.
The best penalty-saving goalkeeper Diego Alves from Valencia had a remarkable 57.1% penalty save success rate. He saved 8 out of 14 penalties.
Simon Mignolet from Liverpool had a 50% save rate. Alisson Becker of Liverpool has a 41% penalty save rate, having saved 13 out of 32 penalties. South African Rowan Williams recently saved 4 out 5. He will redefine the stats by the time he ends his career.
So you can understand the fears of Highlanders fans when the call was made.
There is also the anger at a perceived biased decision. The referee and the linesman agreed to award a penalty in a country with no VAR.
Some fans have argued that the ZTN footage available was decisive although I am still struggling to make a conclusive decision. TV cameras can be misleading or inconclusive.
Unlike VAR cameras, TV cameras are not calibrated and are influenced by perspective. For example, where was the camera to maintain accurate lines North, East, West and South?
In cricket or goal line in soccer they even use hawk eye or some other technology that predicts ball movement or heat maps.
Zimbabwe does not use VAR. So the ZTN footage is purely academic. VAR has not removed subjective arguments over decisions anyway. Fans still see what they want to see into situations.
Broadcast cameras inform viewers. VAR cameras focus on accurate decisions. Teams in Europe have both options but still in contentious moments they may ask for official audio and access official VAR footage. Interpretations still differ anyway.
VAR cameras come with a higher frame rate double that of TV cameras which means VAR has better slow motion detail.
I suspect ZTN and ZBC frame rates are a modest 24fps to 30 fps the same as those for a movie. They should not technically offer slow motions if so. It is possible but it is not helpful.
SABC or Supersport, especially in cricket, can show some impressive frame rates from 50fps upwards that reveal ball movement and transgressions more conclusively, but not always with finality.
Jose Mourinho is still angry with ‘the ghost goal,” when Luis Garcia of Liverpool scored without hitting the nets against Chelsea in 2005. Liverpool fans have no such compunctions accepting the winner after eventually winning the Champions league that year in 2005.
Which brings us to the possibility of comebacks. The drama of comebacks is priceless and creates legacies. Did Highlanders fans and players not believe in their team? This would be sad.
Liverpool’s Champions league win in 2005 and Manchester United’s win in 1999 provided the greatest ever TV drama without question in a final when they came back from losing positions that looked cast in stone, only to win.
When Liverpool went to half time losing 3-0 nobody had any idea they would level 3-3 in 6 minutes and win on penalties. Manchester United however looked dead and buried in 90 minutes against Bayern Munich losing 1-0 only to win it in injury time with 2 quick goals.
That drama was avoided decisively and permanently when the Highlanders match was not played to the full. The rules state that in that case chances of a replay or other redress are impossible.
Zimbabwe replayed an unfair match against Egypt at a remote venue. But violence was involved. That decision was unusual and the context was different.
There are logistical issues and perspective issues. You can’t bring back the same fans or resume the momentum of an abandoned match. How would this happen? How would fans all attend the same match? You have to accept you win some and you lose some. And you may lose unfairly.
Referee’s bad decisions are a part of the game and are still final even with VAR. VAR cost teams points in Europe now, with wrong red cards and goals wrongly given or not given.
Soccer needs to be a gentleman’s game. Recently Sir Alex Ferguson formerly of Manchester United said Bayern were magnanimous when he visited them and hosted him after that dramatic defeat.
Interestingly it took Bayern and AC Milan 2 years to avenge their painful final loses but they addressed it in a footballing context.
A history of abandoned matches is not good for our teams. Neither is the ugly face of violence.
Another comeback at Rufaro stadium on Sunday saw Caps United claw back a 1-0 victory and convert it into a memorable 2-1 win. Dynamos fans threw missiles on the pitch.
Commendably Dynamos players showed sportsmanship and were the bigger men by stemming the tide anger of their fans and pleading for sanity to prevail.
It’s just a game. It’s only better when it is a gentleman’s game. There are bigger issues. No need to damage cars and other property over a soccer game.
Dynamos players opted to show perspective and save their club money. Highlanders players opted to fan the flames which was sad. And the match was abandoned.
It affects public and sponsor perception of the whole product that ironically needs every cent it can get. Our soccer is in intensive care.
Caps United enjoyed a comeback victory recently over Highlanders. But their use of social media in celebrating victories or talking up forthcoming attractions borders on the inflammatory and may promote violence.
The league officials may want to examine the possibility of responsible social media policies with fines and other recourse for sanity to prevail.
Such social media policies would include promoting:
- Posting respectful and inclusive content.
- Avoiding sensitive or controversial topics.
- Focusing on team news, updates, and community engagement
Contestable decisions are a part of football. They include a measure of perceived bias. ‘Hometown decisions’ or painful marginal decisions are as old as the game itself.
Examples of Wilfred Mukuna and Felix Tangawarima and other referees have been cited as paragons of virtue. But the truth is no ref is immune to a stinker. Possible reasons are personal experiences and background,, emotional state, self-doubt, physical and mental well-being.
A prominent referee ended an international math prematurely because of ‘a persistent headache.’
Home advantage, team reputation and expectations, player behaviour and sportsmanship, coach and team staff interaction, media attention and public scrutiny, competition context are suspected to influence perceived bias even in marginal decisions.
The best options include capacity building or empowerment through knowledge and training and mitigating biases through
- Training and education programs
- Technology (VAR, goal-line technology)
- Increased transparency and accountability
- Diverse and experienced referee pools
- Standardized decision-making protocols
The decision to abandon a game deliberately unfortunately comes at a cost.
Fan Disappointment:
- Emotional distress and frustration for attending fans.
- Inconvenience and financial losses for traveling fans.
- Negative impact on fan engagement and loyalty.
Reputational Damage:
- Damage to the league, tournament, or sport’s reputation.
- Negative media attention and publicity.
- Potential loss of credibility and trust among fans and stakeholders.
Administrative Burden:
- Investigation and disciplinary procedures.
- Potential appeals and disputes.
- Additional paperwork and administrative tasks.
The Officials should encourage and ensure:
- Establish clear abandonment protocols.
- Provide transparent communication.
- Ensure fair and consistent decision-making.
- Support affected teams and fans.
- Review and improve abandonment procedures.
Abandoning games might be justified in life-threatening situations like racism, violence, proven gross misconduct by officials include bribery with credible evidence and unplayable conditions.
Alternatives to abandoning games include protests within rules, post-match appeals and complaints, collaborative discussions with governing bodies as well as seeking mediation or arbitration. But these options should not be frivolous and vexatious. Not one team should monopolise abandoned matches.
A wise approach is to ensure abandonment isn’t impulsive or emotional. Also teams need to consider consequences and weigh potential outcomes. They should pursue other avenues for resolution. They should communicate clearly and sincerely with fans.
New teams like Simba Bhora, FC Platinum, Ngezi Platinum are challenging existing league dynamics and attracting top talent.
Highlanders retain strong fan support and brand loyalty. It’s even a unique position. I worry Dynamos and Caps have a lot more to do keep fans engaged when results are not so favourable.
Not employing able bodied innovators, thinkers and influencers like Moses Chunga is coming at a cost for Dynamos. For Caps, Lloyd Chitembwe has won the league but maybe, (even for Dynamos) the rigid and old formations and approaches may cause die-hard fans to stay away and watch foreign leagues on TV).
Our coaches need training and exposure. The world has moved on. Our teams need goal scorers. Zimbabwe needs Moses Chunga more than Moses Chunga needs Zimbabwe, at club or national level.
There are also other coaches among former players or innovative coaches like Mourinho and Charles Mhlauri who never had a playing career as professionals or had a modest career like Jurgen Klopp.
Try harder
A poorly written article which doesn't consider factors ….this match was on the back drop of another a league match where Simba Bhora scored from an alleged penalty …. Highlanders knew nothing was going to be done. The look at the distance of the referee from scene ….you can't make such a call.