The Zimbabwe Football Association, ZIFA, has been given ten days by the country's High Court to show cause why local champions Highlanders should not be allowed to play their league matches at home.

Highlanders were banned from using Barbourfields Stadium in Bulawayo for two home matches, as punishment for their fans' violent behaviour during a Champions League match against Young Africans of Tanzania last month.

The match was abandoned after Highlanders fans started throwing bottles and other objects onto the pitch.

Several of the Young Africans players and a Highlanders security official were struck.

Referee Charles Kafatina of Malawi then directed that the game be abandoned after a 15-minute stoppage failed to bring the situation under control.

Highlanders were already serving a suspended sentence from ZIFA for hooliganism perpetrated by supporters on several occasions at the end of last year.

No mercy

ZIFA decided to show no mercy this time, slapping the Bulawayo-based club with a heavy fine and ordering them to play their next two home games in the capital Harare.

ZIFA also directed that Highlanders should play the following home game in an empty stadium in Bulawayo.

The ZIFA punishment could cost Highlanders a lot.

Harare is some 400km from their Bulawayo base and playing there has never been an appealing prospect.

So after an ineffective appeal, Highlanders took ZIFA to the High Court ahead of their home game last Sunday.

The match was postponed and ZIFA must respond to the High Court by the weekend.

All this is taking place before the African football body CAF have made a ruling on the abandoned match.

CAF will be looking at the case in two weeks' time.

A ZIFA representative has told the BBC they feel they are well within their powers to set their own punishment, although Highlanders fans and officials feel they have been harshly dealt with.