FOUR players and three officials from Chipata City Council Football Club have been arrested for allegedly assaulting match officials after their team lost 3-2 to Mikalile in a Football Association of Zambia Eastern Province Division One fixture last Sunday.
The seven have been charged with one count of assault and occasioning actual bodily harm.
Eastern Province police commanding officer Limpo Liywalii named the seven as Vincent Chisanga, 54, of Mpezeni Park, who is coach, Goodson Banda, 45, of Damview Township in Chipata, and John Phiri, 28, a general worker.
The rest are footballers Farai Sithole, 23, Martin Mwanza, 20, Timothy Banda, 17, and Emmanuel Zulu, 15.
Liywalii said in a statement issued yesterday that the seven were arrested and charged on Thursday and have since been released on police bond.
He said all the seven will appear at Chipata Magistrates Court soon.
The seven allegedly attacked referee Frank Phiri and his assistants, Elemiya Phiri and Watch Zulu, accusing them of biased officiating.
They pounced on the match officials immediately after the final whistle was blown at David Kaunda Stadium.
The match officials ran for their lives as the crowd gave chase.
FAZ Eastern Province chairperson Chrispin Kamuna condemned the attacks on match officials.
Zambia Daily Mail
