FAZ Appeals Committee throws out Nchanga Rangers appeal

The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) Appeals Committee has thrown out Nchanga Rangers’ petition to have their five-match spectator ban for their home matches and K50, 000 fine overturned.

According to a statement by FAZ Communications manager Sydney Mungala availed to the ZamFoot Crew, the Appeals Committee concluded that Rangers failed to dispute the grounds of their punishment but merely pleaded for leniency. 

“The FAZ Appeals Committee has thrown out an appeal by Nchanga Rangers to have the Disciplinary Committee five-match spectator ban for their home matches and K50, 000 fine overturned.

In its verdict the Appeals Committee noted that Nchanga Rangers did not dispute the grounds on which they were sanctioned but merely pleaded for leniency.”

Nchanga Rangers were handed a 5-match spectator ban for their home matches following crowd trouble at Nchanga Stadium on October 1, 2022, for their home match against Nkana Football Club.

However, the Appeals Committee has upheld the ruling by the Disciplinary Committee stressing that FAZ had placed a high premium on stadium safety and security for host teams.

“The committee therefore made the following decisions, against the background that there has been a growing tendency of misconduct and violent acts by fans or supporters, the Appeals Committee declined to interfere with the decision of the Disciplinary Committee. That it is of the position that the ban of five games on fans and supporters will serve the purpose of deterring the local supporters of the club from reverting to similar conduct/misconduct in the future. It is therefore in the interest of preserving order and discipline in the game among soccer fans, the Disciplinary Committee’s position was upheld,” reads part of the verdict.

“The committee was of the view that the fine of K50, 000 imposed by the Disciplinary Committee is principally aimed at serving as a penalty against the administration of the management of the football club. The committee took cognisance of the fact that Nchanga Rangers was a first offender, but the committee was of the view that there has been a growing tendency of misconduct by fans or supporters and that it is important to be firm in that direction.”

Having already saved the ban on two home games they finish the ban with the games against NAPSA Stars on 19th November, Kansanshi Dynamos on 3rd December, and Zanaco on 14th January 2023.