BLUE Swallows team manager Wonderful Rukuni and a group supporters are most likely to face the music for their gross misconduct of violence during and after their away fixture at Herentals.

The visitors took matters into their own hands at National Sports Stadium last Thursday as they protested against officiating.

Rukuni was at the forefront of inciting violent behaviour after running onto the pitch to kick Herentals forward Blessing Majarira who had been fouled and lying down in agony.

Rukuni would also react to insults from a fan by throwing an empty water bottle and chair that ended up hitting a little boy. 

Eventually, a group of Blue Swallows fans scaled the security barrier to pounce on Mutavanga upon the final whistle.

“It’s an issue that I haven’t received a report from the referee but if what I am hearing and what the media is saying is true then it’s an issue that we will deal with decisively,”  NRSL chairman Willard Manyengavana told Sportszone.co.zw.

While it is understood that referees are also human prone to errors -minor, huge and some horrific- there are various channels to which grievances are aired out the relevant authorities. This has become an anthem at NRSL workshops but it seem it’s all falling on deaf ears.

Manyengavana added: “We don’t condone people who beat up referees for whatever reason. It doesn’t matter if the referee gives 50 penalties in a match, it doesn’t warrant people to lay their hands on the referee.

“There are channels which people have to follow. It’s an issue that we have always talked about. All people know that referee haarohwe.”

The decision by Blue Swallows to manhandle Mutavanga proved that the air marshals did not only bring the game into disrepute but also the Air Force of Zimbabwe brand.

Rukuni even promised Herentals hell on earth in the reverse fixture set for Manyame Air Base on match day 28.

“Kwedu havapinde toda kuvatangira pa gate,” he shouted!

In such matters of hooliganism and violence, the Southern Region First Division has set precedence on how hooligans and perpetrators of violence should be dealt with. 

In 2016, Victoria Falls Tigers defender Lethukuthula Mathe was given a 10-year ban for the assault of referee Bekezela Makeka during a league match against Amagagasi.

And this year, the Southern Region completed the handing of a 10-year ban on Ntabazinduna coach Rangarirai Nyoni and one-year bans each for three players James Nyoni, Eddington Ndava and Garikayi Chikuvanyanga for their roles in the assault of referee Saidi Phiri during a league game of last season against Talen Vision.

“Like I said we haven’t seen the referee’s report. The moment we receive the report we will know if the NRSL board will deal with it or we would be referring it to the Disciplinary Committee which we have given authority to run with these matters,” Manyengavana said.