Following disturbances that rocked Barbourfields last Sunday, Footballers Union of Zimbabwe vice president Herbert Dick feels footballers should be respected in the same way spectators want their livelihoods to be treated.

 “We have never been to the fans work place to throw stones, sing derogatory songs, and fight the police or guard or to cause any sort of trouble. We respect them so they must do the same. When they come to the stadiums that is our workplace so they have no right to enter the pitch neither do they have the right to throw missiles at our workplace

“I feel fans are lacking respect with our work. We do not condone what happened at Barbourfields. It was very unfortunate incident. We do not know the motives of some fans and the fortunate thing is none of our players were injured.

‘Most of our players are not insured and in case of a permanent injury what was going to happen? They are the same fans who laugh at us again saying footballers we are reckless with our earnings when things get tough for us

“One can be stabbed with the hooligans and all we are saying is No to hooliganism and we urge fans to respect our workplace because that is where we make our money.

“I will not teach anyone to support but they must try to watch games from other countries and see how football is supported .In South Africa you do not see police officers in the pitch they will be marshals and they are well respected

“All who took part in the violence should be jailed and banned from football. I however feel that it could have been a grudge between kombi drivers, touts who used the stage to vent their anger on the police because of grudges. I do not think genuine Highlanders fans would do that” said Dick

Dick also took a swipe at clubs that were not respecting FUZ.

“We are not allowed entry into the stadiums but we are the owners of the game. We only encounter this problem with Bulawayo teams. The PSL has been promising to give us access card but the season is about to end and we are still to receive them

“I just want to remind most people that we deserve respect. It is our game. We are the owners and we are surprised when some sections take us as enemies, when some people tend not t like us. We are just here to fight for the rights of players,” added Dick.