Scottland FC has been confirmed as the 2024 National Region Soccer League (NRSL) champions after the ZIFA Appeals Committee ruled on the disputed outcome of a match between the Mabvuku-based club and Karoi United FC.
The ZIFA Appeals Committee upheld the NRSL Disciplinary Committee’s decision, which found Karoi United FC guilty of causing the abandonment of the match. As a result, the match was awarded to Scottland FC with a 3-0 scoreline.
In a statement, the NRSL said that the ruling by ZIFA was a vindication of its disciplinary committee’s earlier decision. Said the NRSL:
<blockquote>
We have taken note of the decision of the ZIFA Appeals committee in reference to the abandoned match between Karoi United FC and Scottland FC.
The Appeals committee upheld the decision of the NRSL Disciplinary committee, wherein Karoi United FC was found guilty for causing the abandonment of the match, and consequently the match was awarded to Scottland FC on a 3-0 scoreline.
This judgement is a vindication of our disciplinary committee. We are of the firm belief that the decision is in line with all known football Rules and Regulations and in the spirit of fair play.
We hope that this will bring closure to the issue and that henceforth our members and stakeholders will move forward and prepare for the forthcoming season.
</blockquote>
The match, played at Chikangwe Stadium on September 15, was abandoned in the 88th minute after referee Martin Dingo was injured by a thrown “missile”. At the time of the incident, the score was 1-1.
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Scottland FC won the 2024 NRSL championship after ZIFA's Appeals Committee ruled in their favor against Karoi United FC. The decision was made because Karoi United FC was found guilty of causing the match to be abandoned. The match was awarded to Scottland FC with a 3-0 scoreline. The match was stopped in the 88th minute when the referee was hurt by an object thrown on the field. The NRSL is happy with the decision and hopes this will end the issue so everyone can get ready for the next season.

ZIFA Appeals Committee Rules In Favour Of Scottland FC

The chairman of the Northern Region Soccer League, Martin Kweza, and his deputy, Sweeney Mushonga, reportedly made urgent attempts to prevent the Karoi United case from being heard by the ZIFA appeals committee.
According to <a href="https://www.soccer24.co.zw/2024/11/21/karoi-united-scottland-case-zifa-appeals-committee-decides-nation-awaits/">Soccer24</a>, a source familiar with the proceedings claimed that Kweza and Mushonga, represented by their lawyers during the hearing on Tuesday, contended that Karoi United had withdrawn their appeal. Said the source:
<blockquote>
They argued through their lawyer that Karoi United had withdrawn their appeal. So basically, they tried to stop the case from being heard.
</blockquote>
ZIFA General Secretary Yvonne Mapika Manwa communicated on two separate occasions regarding the upcoming hearing by the national association’s appeals committee.
On November 9, she informed Karoi United that their appeal had been acknowledged. Then, on November 13, she wrote to Martin Kweza, reminding the ZIFA presidential hopeful that the record of proceedings for the case was required.
The ZIFA Appeals Committee eventually heard the case, although no representatives from Scottland were present.
According to a statement from the Northern Region Soccer League, the verdict will be announced within seven days.
The ZIFA Appeals Committee may uphold the Northern Region Soccer League Disciplinary Committee’s ruling to declare Scottland the winner of the match with a 3-0 scoreline. If that happens, the Mabvuku-based team will be promoted to the Premier Soccer League (PSL).
If the Appeals Committee overrules the NRSL Disciplinary Committee and declares the match a 1-1 draw as per precedence, Scottland will lose the title to MWOS, as the Norton-based side would finish one point ahead of Scottland.
Alternatively, the ZIFA Appeals Committee could decide that the remaining two minutes of the match should be played to determine the outcome.
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The Northern Region Soccer League has a case between Karoi United and Scottland. The ZIFA appeals committee will decide the outcome. The league officials tried to stop the case but failed. The ZIFA General Secretary communicated with both parties. The decision will be announced within seven days. Scottland could be declared the winner with a 3-0 scoreline and promoted to the PSL. Or the match could be declared a 1-1 draw, giving the title to MWOS. Another option is to play the remaining two minutes of the match to determine the outcome.

ZIFA Appeals Committee To Decide Karoi United-Scottland Case

The hearing for the Karoi United FC versus Scottland FC case, originally scheduled for today, has been postponed to November 19.
The delay comes after it was revealed that the Martin Kweza-led Northern Region Soccer League administration failed to provide ZIFA with the required record of proceedings, as per standard procedure.
In response, ZIFA, through General Secretary Yvonne Mapika Manwa, has written to Kweza demanding that the record of proceedings be submitted by the end of today.
If the documents are not provided, the hearing will proceed without them. Wrote Mapika Manwa:
<blockquote>
The Zimbabwe Football Association hereby follows up on our previous request for the record of proceedings for the case between Karoi FC and Scottland FC.
Please be advised that if the record of proceedings is not submitted by the end of the day tomorrow, 14 November 2024, the committee will proceed without it.
Consequently, the hearing initially scheduled for the 14th of November 2024 will be postponed to the 19th of November 2024 at 11:00 hours, pending receipt of the record of proceedings.
</blockquote>
Early this month, Karoi United formally appealed the ruling that found them responsible for the abandonment of their match against Scottland.
The NRSL disciplinary committee had ruled on Monday that Karoi United were at fault for the abandonment of their match against Scottland at Chikangwe, which had been tied 1-1 at the time.
Scottland, owned by ZANU PF MP Pedzai Sakupwanya was awarded a 3-0 victory over Karoi United for the abandoned match.
Some football observers suspect corruption by the NRSL in handling the matter, given the departure from precedent in dealing with abandoned matches.
For example, in 2018, a match between Bindura United and Mushowani Stars was abandoned in the 80th minute at 2-2 after referee Langton Chitata was assaulted by an unknown assailant.
Bindura was fined US$1500, and Mushowani was cautioned, but the 2-2 result stood.
Similarly, in the following season, a Northern Region Soccer League match between Black Rhinos and Mushowani was abandoned in the 80th minute, also at 2-2, after referee Nelson Mawanda was assaulted.
Both Rhinos and Mushowani were fined US$2000, but the 2-2 result remained.
In contrast, for the Karoi United vs. Scottland match, the Disciplinary Committee cancelled the 1-1 scoreline and awarded Scottland the win.
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The hearing for the Karoi United FC versus Scottland FC case has been postponed to November 19 because the Northern Region Soccer League did not give ZIFA the right documents. ZIFA is now demanding these documents. If they are not given, the hearing will still happen without them. The General Secretary of ZIFA sent a letter to the League asking for the documents by the end of November 14th. If they get the documents, the hearing will happen on November 19th. If not, it will still happen without them.

ZIFA Demands Missing Documents From NRSL As Karoi United-Scottland Case Is Postponed

Karoi United, a team in the Northern Region Soccer League (NRSL), have formally appealed the ruling that found them responsible for the abandonment of their match against Scottland.
ZIFA Chief Executive Officer Yvonne Manwa confirmed to <a href="https://www.hmetro.co.zw/karoi-utd-appeal-against-nrsl-judgment/">H-Metro</a> that Karoi United had submitted the required US$5,000 appeal fee to the football association. ZIFA is now expected to schedule a hearing once all the necessary documentation has been processed.
The appeal will temporarily halt the celebratory atmosphere in the Scottland camp as they approach the final day of the NRSL championship race on Friday.
The NRSL disciplinary committee had ruled on Monday that Karoi United were at fault for the abandonment of their match against Scottland at Chikangwe, which had been tied 1-1 at the time.
Scottland, owned by ZANU PF MP Pedzai Sakupwanya, climbed to the top of the NRSL after being awarded a 3-0 victory over Karoi United for an abandoned match.
With this decision, Scottland now holds 84 points from 37 games, leading MWOS by two points, who have 82 points from the same number of matches.
Football stakeholders suspect corruption in handling the matter, given the departure from precedent in dealing with abandoned matches.
For example, in 2018, a match between Bindura United and Mushowani Stars was abandoned in the 80th minute at 2-2 after referee Langton Chitata was assaulted by an unknown assailant.
Bindura was fined US$1500, and Mushowani was cautioned, but the 2-2 result stood.
Similarly, in the following season, a Northern Region Soccer League match between Black Rhinos and Mushowani was abandoned in the 80th minute, also at 2-2, after referee Nelson Mawanda was assaulted.
Both Rhinos and Mushowani were fined US$2000, but the 2-2 result remained.
In contrast, for the Karoi United vs. Scottland match, the Disciplinary Committee cancelled the 1-1 scoreline and awarded Scottland the win, benefiting them with just one match left in the season and providing a clear advantage over MWOS.
Scottland will host Black Mambas at Rufaro Stadium, while MWOS will face Agama at Ngoni Stadium on Friday in the final round of fixtures.
MWOS can still secure the sole ticket to the Premier Soccer League if they win and Scottland draw, thanks to their superior goal difference of plus-3.
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Karoi United did not agree that they caused the match against Scottland to be abandoned. They paid $5,000 to appeal the decision. Scottland was declared winners of the match, which put them in first place in the league. People are questioning if there was corruption involved in the decision. In the past, other matches that were abandoned didn't end with one team being declared the winner like in this case. This decision gives Scottland an advantage in the league. The final matches of the season will determine who wins the league. MWOS could still win if Scottland doesn't win their last match.

Karoi United Challenges NRSL Verdict On Abandoned Scottland Match

Scottland Football Club, owned by ZANU PF MP Pedzai Sakupwanya, climbed to the top of the Northern Region Soccer League on Monday after being awarded a 3-0 victory over Karoi United for an abandoned match.
With this decision, Scottland now holds 84 points from 37 games, leading MWOS by two points, who have 82 points from the same number of matches.
The match between the two teams at Chikangwe Stadium in Karoi was abandoned in the 88th minute with the score tied at 1-1.
The Northern Region Soccer League Disciplinary Committee found Karoi United guilty of causing the match abandonment based on referee Martin Dingo’s report.
Allegedly, Dingo had opted to officiate the Division One fixture instead of a Premier Soccer League (PSL) match scheduled for the same weekend.
He reported being struck by a missile thrown by a Karoi United fan, preventing him from completing the final two minutes of the game.
Football stakeholders suspect corruption in handling the matter, given the departure from precedent in dealing with abandoned matches.
For example, in 2018, a match between Bindura United and Mushowani Stars was abandoned in the 80th minute at 2-2 after referee Langton Chitata was assaulted by an unknown assailant.
Bindura was fined US$1500, and Mushowani was cautioned, but the 2-2 result stood.
Similarly, in the following season, a Northern Region Soccer League match between Black Rhinos and Mushowani was abandoned in the 80th minute, also at 2-2, after referee Nelson Mawanda was assaulted. 
Both Rhinos and Mushowani were fined US$2000, but the 2-2 result remained.
In contrast, for the Karoi United vs. Scottland match, the Disciplinary Committee cancelled the 1-1 scoreline and awarded Scottland the win, benefiting them with just one match left in the season and providing a clear advantage over MWOS.
Scottland will host Black Mambas at Rufaro Stadium, while MWOS will face Agama at Ngoni Stadium on Friday in the final round of fixtures.
MWOS can still secure the sole ticket to the Premier Soccer League if they win and Scottland draw, thanks to their superior goal difference of plus-3.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Scottland Football Club got 3 points for a match that was stopped. They are now in first place with 84 points. MWOS has 82 points. The match was stopped because a player hit a referee. Some people think there was corruption in giving Scottland the win. In the past, other matches were stopped, but the scores stayed the same. Now Scottland has an advantage and might go to the Premier Soccer League. MWOS can still win if they do well in their last match.

Scottland Usurp MWOS After Being Awarded Full Points From Abandoned Match

The much-anticipated judgment regarding the abandoned match between Karoi United and Scottland was postponed on Wednesday after Karoi United requested additional time to submit a mitigation report, having been found guilty in the case.
The Northern Region Soccer League (NRSL) Disciplinary Committee determined that Karoi United was responsible for the abandonment of their league match last month.
The match was stopped in the 82nd minute when referee Matthew Dingo reported experiencing pain in “one of his testicles” after being struck by a “hard object.” He also mentioned bleeding from the shin where he had been hit.
In a statement released yesterday, the NRSL assured that the judgment would be delivered no later than Monday. It said:
<blockquote>
In the disciplinary proceedings for the Northern Region for the abandoned match between Karoi United FC versus Scottland FC.
After delivery of the ruling on the guilty verdict of Karoi United FC, their lawyer requested time to submit mitigation in writing by the close of business on Friday, November 1.
The ruling on the penalty shall be delivered by the Disciplinary Committee by Monday, November 4 latest.
</blockquote>
Karoi United were charged with “Contravention of Section D2 (2.1) of the Northern Region Soccer League Rules and Regulations”.
The Disciplinary Committee is expected to award Scottland the three points on Monday, regardless of Karoi United’s mitigation.
Depending on the outcomes of tomorrow’s matches involving title-chasing MWOS FC and Scottland, the latter could rise to the top of the league standings.
Currently, MWOS holds a one-point lead, but if Scottland wins against Herentals Under-20, they will ascend to the top following the conclusion of their case against Karoi United.
If both teams win their remaining two matches of the season, Scottland will finish in first place with a two-point advantage.
Meanwhile, MWOS will no longer control their own fate and must rely on other teams to secure victories against Scottland.
Only one team from the Northern Region Soccer League will earn promotion to the Premier Soccer League for the 2025 season, making the competition all the more intense.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

The game between Karoi United and Scottland was paused because the referee was hurt. Karoi United was found guilty of causing the game to stop. They asked for more time before the punishment is decided. Scottland might get three points from the match. If Scottland wins their next games, they could be at the top of the league. Only one team will move up to the better league, making the games even more important. MWOS needs other teams to win to have a chance. The decision on the punishment will be made on Monday.

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