“Actions Have Consequences”: Hopewell Chin’ono Slams Warriors Fans Over CAF Sanction
Hopewell Chin’ono has criticised the behaviour of some Zimbabwean football fans after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) ordered the Warriors to play their next home international match behind closed doors.
The journalist and social commentator said the sanction was a consequence of incidents that marred Zimbabwe’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against the Democratic Republic of Congo at the National Sports Stadium.
CAF’s decision followed the death of a supporter and a pitch invasion during the Warriors’ 2-1 defeat to the DRC on 28 September. The match was the first Warriors fixture at the renovated stadium after Zimbabwe spent years playing home internationals outside the country.
Also Read: Warriors’ Next Home Match To Be Played Behind Closed Doors After CAF Sanction
Chin’ono Says Fans Must Take Responsibility
Reacting to the sanction on Facebook, Chin’ono said the punishment was a consequence of the conduct witnessed during the match.
“This is the price of the disgraceful behaviour displayed by some of our compatriots at the DRC game. Actions have consequences, and the bill has now arrived,” he wrote.
He rejected attempts to portray the incidents as harmless celebrations, arguing that the behaviour at the stadium went beyond ordinary fan enthusiasm.
“When we criticised that conduct, some people rushed to defend it, insisting the fans were simply having fun. There was nothing fun about what happened at the National Sports Stadium,” Chin’ono said.
‘The Punishment Does Not Fall Only’ On Those Involved
Chin’ono said the consequences would extend beyond the individuals who allegedly damaged property or entered the field.
He argued that the wider football community and the country would also bear the impact of the CAF decision.
“The scenes were shameful, and the punishment does not fall only on those who damaged property or invaded the pitch. It falls on every player, every genuine supporter and the nation as a whole,” he wrote.
CAF has ordered Zimbabwe to host its next home international without spectators, meaning the Warriors will lose the backing of their home crowd for the fixture. ZIFA has also been fined over the incidents.
Stadium Return Overshadowed
Chin’ono said the incidents were particularly disappointing given the effort that had gone into restoring the stadium for international football.
“After five years without hosting international football at home, the government renovated the stadium so that Zimbabweans could once again watch the Warriors on home soil.
“Yet at the very first match, a few individuals repaid that effort by vandalising the facility and storming the pitch. It was despicable and completely unacceptable,” he wrote.
Warriors To Lose Home Support
Chin’ono said the closed-door order would deprive the Warriors of the backing they would normally receive from supporters.
“Now the Warriors will play their next home game in front of empty stands, robbed of the support that should be their greatest advantage,” he said.
He called for greater responsibility among supporters if Zimbabwe is to continue hosting international football.
“If we want to keep international football in Zimbabwe, we must protect what we have and hold one another to a higher standard,” Chin’ono wrote.
The post “This Is The Price Of The Disgraceful Behaviour”: Hopewell Chin’ono Slams Warriors Fans Over CAF Sanction appeared first on iHarare News.
