Regulatory debate erupts over postponed Yanga, Simba derby

Dar es Salaam. The highly anticipated Mainland Tanzania Premier League match between Young Africans (Yanga) and Simba SC, originally scheduled for March 8, 2025, at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, has been postponed, sparking intense debate.

The Tanzania Premier League Board (TPLB) made the decision after Simba SC declared they would not participate in the match, citing an incident in which Yanga fans allegedly blocked their players from conducting a final training session at the stadium on March 7.

However, the postponement has drawn sharp criticism from football stakeholders, who question whether TPLB followed established regulations in making its ruling.

Did TPLB violate its own rules?

Tanzania’s football regulations outline specific conditions under which a match may be postponed. According to rule 34 of the league’s regulations, postponement is only permitted under the following circumstances: if the national team has a scheduled match, if an unforeseen force majeure event occurs beyond human control, or if at least three players from the same club are called up for national team duty.

Additionally, any request for postponement must be submitted in writing at least 14 days before the match date unless an emergency situation arises. Critics argue that none of these criteria were met in this case, raising concerns about whether TPLB overstepped its authority.

Legal and stakeholder reactions

Despite TPLB’s official statement, many football analysts and legal experts have criticized the ruling as a dangerous precedent.

Renowned Tanzanian advocate Alex Mgongolwa argued that Simba SC should have been required to play the match and file a complaint afterward, rather than being granted an immediate postponement.

"This decision does not align with CAF or FIFA regulations. Yanga's rights have been violated, and they should consider taking the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS)," said Mgongolwa.

Other stakeholders have echoed similar sentiments, warning that the decision undermines the credibility of Tanzania’s football governing bodies.

Yanga’s response and TPLB’s justification

As the designated hosts, Yanga SC strongly opposed the postponement, insisting that the match should proceed as scheduled. The club also stated that if the game did not take place on the planned date, they would refuse to play on another day.

TPLB, however, justified its decision, stating that the postponement would allow for a thorough investigation into Simba’s claims.

The board also assured stakeholders that a full report would be released along with an announcement of a new match date.