Africa-Press – Eswatini. Capital city giants Mbabane Swallows and Highlanders could be hot soup following the two teams’ fans’ brawl that erupted during the Mbabane derby played on Sunday at Mavuso Sports Centre.
The sides could each be slapped with not less than E60 000 by the Eswatini Football Association Disciplinary Committee.
The tension started after Swallows fans attacked a Highlanders supporter who was passing through their grandstand, and this could land the team a possible E40 000 fine.
Article 7(1)(c) of the 2023/24 MTN Premier League rules and regulations states that assaulting a supporter carries a maximum fine of E40 000.
“Assaulting a referee, PLE official, player, club official, marshal, supporter, fan, spectator or
the use of excessive force shall be punished with a fine of not less than E40 000.00 by the
DC. In addition, the offending club shall be ordered to compensate the victim for any financial loss incurred due to the assault,” the article reads.
More drama erupted behind the Swallows goalposts during the second half after Highlanders’ supporters threw eggs in the goalposts occupied by Bongiswa ‘Romario’ Dlamini.
This led to a brawl between the two sets of supporters which were eventually dispersed by gunshots from police under the Operational Support Service Unit (OSSU).
OSSU members dispersing Swallows and Highlanders fans during the derby.
The incident forced referee Celumusa Siphepho to stop play for a few minutes something that could land both teams a fine not less than E20 000 for disrupting play in accordance with article 7(1)(j).
“To directly or indirectly interrupt, obstruct or disturb the normal proceedings of a match before, during or after the match – a fine of not less than E 20,000.00 by the D,” article 7,1(j) reads.
The two crowd pullers could be further slapped with a maximum of E25 000 for failing to control their fans covered by article 7(1) g.
“Failure to control fan(s), supporter(s), official(s), marshal(s) – a fine not less than E25,000.00 by the DC,” the article reads.
Premier League of Eswatini Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Pat Vilakati said they were yet to receive reports for the weekend matches.
“We haven’t received the weekend matches reports, and they are due for Tuesday (April 28, 2025,” he said.
Vilakati also condemned the violence that erupted during the match.
“We are strongly against any form of violence during matches which taint the image of the sport.
Fans should learn to adopt the spirit of fair by learning to sit together like it is happening in different countries,” he said.
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