SOCCER
Ntuthuko Maphumulo
The never-ending story of the Premier Soccer League (PSL) failing to put its house in order has reared its ugly head again.
Just as the PSL’s disciplinary committee members were getting back to their daily jobs, they have to deal with another case: the Coca-Cola Cup game between Santos and Golden Arrows was called off on Saturday because Arrows refused to play.
Besides the disciplinary action likely to be taken against Arrows the disciplinary committee will look into the actions of Sundowns, who also refused to play a PSL game against Jomo Cosmos before they jetted off to Congo for an African Champions League game against TPMazembe.
Cosmos demand the points for the game which was to have taken place in Rustenburg but the league has not yet taken a decision.
The PSL has already lost the sponsorship of First National Bank because last season’s final of the lucrative Bob Save Super Bowl was reduced to being a curtain raiser for a league match. This season there has been controversy over promotion and relegation; disciplinary action against Pirates when a match had to be abandoned, and several other incidents that put South African soccer in a bad light.
The Golden Arrows saga is to be dealt with by the disciplinary committee on Friday. PSL chief executive Robin Petersen said: “The disciplinary committee is to decide whether they give Santos the game or there is a replay.”
Arrows are charged with bringing the league into disrepute and causing the abandonment of the game.
Santos have not been spared the league’s wrath, as they have been charged with disobeying competition rules (in connection with ticket pricing) and also bringing the league into disrepute.