HARARE – The Premier Soccer League has issued disciplinary summons against Hardrock, Dynamos, and Hardrock chief executive Kudzanai Hove following crowd trouble that forced the abandonment of their Castle Lager PSL fixture at Chahwanda Stadium on May 24. 2026.
Both clubs stand charged with causing the abandonment of the match, disturbing normal proceedings, pitch invasion, acts of violence, and malicious damage to property.
Hardrock faces the additional institutional charge of failing to provide adequate security for the fixture.
Hove faces individual charges of disorderly conduct, pitch invasion, and violent behaviour.
A leaked referee’s report, signed by match official Mhaka Magare, paints a detailed picture of a fixture that was on edge before a ball was kicked.
Officials were warned of crowd control problems at the entrance gates before kick-off, delaying the start by 30 minutes. The match kicked off at 3.30PM.
The match descended into disorder after Magare awarded Hardrock FC a penalty in the 67th minute for a handball offence. Magare reported that three Dynamos players – Shadreck Nyahwa, Hastings Chapusha and Witness Shave along with technical officials disputed the decision and physically pushed him, causing a five-minute stoppage.
The penalty was eventually taken and converted, putting Hardrock FC ahead in the 72nd minute.
Violence erupted a few minutes later while the match was still in progress. Magare reported that Dynamos supporters began throwing bottles, cans, and stones towards Hardrock supporters, who retaliated. The Dynamos fans then invaded the pitch first, followed by Hardrock supporters.
In a particularly alarming passage of his report, Magare describes how match officials ran towards the dressing rooms for safety, only to be blocked by Dynamos technical staff and substitutes.
“The Dynamos technical officials and substitutes blocked our way from leaving the pitch saying we should not run away because we are to blame,” Magare wrote.
Officials eventually reached the dressing room. The match commissioner subsequently advised that the pitch had been cleared, but Magare said it was by then dark, with insufficient light to continue play. He formally abandoned the match on safety grounds.
The disciplinary hearing will be held at PSL offices on June 9, 2026, at 5.30PM. Both clubs, and Hove individually, are required to appear before the PSL Disciplinary Committee.
