HIGHLANDERS were thrown out of the BancABC Sup8r competition after being found responsible for the chaos which led to the abandonment of their semi-final match against Dynamos.

The game was awarded to the Harare side on a 3-0 score-line.

A three man ad-hoc committee chaired by lawyer, Don Moyo, found the Bulawayo side culpable for the abandonment of the match on 21 August at Barbourfields Stadium.

Trouble in the game started when the referee awarded Highlanders a penalty in the 70th minute after one of the home side’s strikers was “carelessly tackled in the penalty area”.

Dynamos were then leading 1-0 and their players vigorously protested the decision resulting in their captain George Magariro being cautioned by the referee.

The referee’s report stated that Highlanders fans joined the fray throwing missiles on the pitch resulting in a Dynamos player being struck on the head.

The report added that a Dynamos player Washington Arubi was spotted making a finger gesture towards the Highlanders fans while another player, Ashley Rambanepasi, threw back one of the missiles into the crowd.

This further incensed the home fans resulting in more missiles raining on the pitch.

The Dynamos players then walked off the pitch and went to their dressing room after being summoned by their coaches.

However, the game resumed after 35 minutes with Highlanders taking the penalty which was saved by the Dynamos goalkeeper.

But matters again got out of hand in the 81st minute when Dynamos were awarded a penalty.

Highlanders players protested the decision and walked off the pitch after being summoned by their manager Mohammed Fathy.

They remained in their dressing room for about 28 minutes and the referee was forced to call off the game at about 6:05pm due to bad lighting.

The PSL ad hoc committee ruled that Highlanders must take the blame for the abandonment of the match.

Read part of its report: “Having made the finding that Highlanders were responsible for the abandonment of the match we pronounce and declare that the match in which Highlanders took part as lost by the club concerned and won by Dynamos on a 3-0 score-line as per the rules.”

The committee also recommended that football authorities take further action against individuals it found responsible for the chaos.

“It is pertinent that we mention Ashley Rambanepasi, Elvis Chiweshe, Nyika Chifamba and Mohammed Fathy and recommend that disciplinary action be taken against them for their various roles in the stoppages involved in the match.

“We also recommend that for their walkouts the two clubs be also brought for a hearing,” the committee said.