After protracted argument in the Johannesburg High Court on Friday, Judge Mohamed Jajbhay ruled in favour of Kaizer Chiefs and postponed their Premier Soccer League (PSL) game against Mamelodi Sundowns, which was due to be played at FNB Stadium on Sunday behind locked doors.
”Like it or not,” said a resigned PSL prosecutor Zola Majavu, ”we will have to abide by Judge Jajbhay’s judgement” — which also determined the PSL will pay the legal costs.
The matter was heard in the High Court following an urgent application by Chiefs.
It was made in the wake of the PSL disciplinary committee’s decision that Amakhosi’s home games against Sundowns and Black Leopards should take place without spectators, with a R100 000 fine imposed on the club and a R45 000 suspended fine from a previous case invoked as well.
The sentence was meted out as a result of widespread violence and vandalism on the part of Chiefs’ supporters during the club’s recent Supa8 Cup defeat against Bloemfontein Celtic at the FNB Stadium.
Stadium manager Dennis Mumble estimated the damage at between R350 000 and R600 000.
Chiefs have also appealed the PSL’s sentence and this issue will be heard by the South African Football Association’s (Safa) appeal board over the weekend.
”The appeal goes on as scheduled,” said Majavu, ”and we will continue to oppose Chiefs’ application in this respect as well.”
The PSL prosecutor said Judge Jajbhay’s judgement came as ”a surprise” in view of the fact that he indicated his decision was based on the fact that the appeal should have already been decided.
”Ironically,” added Majavu, ”it was as a result of Chiefs requesting a postponement of the appeal last Sunday that the matter has not been finalised. Now they are benefiting from the postponement themselves.”
Majavu said if the Safa appeal board upholds the PSL’s sentence on Chiefs, it is certain the games in which Amakhosi will have to play in front of empty stadiums will remain those against Sundowns and Black Leopards.
”In that case, nothing will change,” said the PSL prosecutor, ”only the inconvenience.”
A PSL game between glamour clubs Chiefs and Sundowns would under normal circumstances attract a crowd in the vicinity of 50 000 — and the issue over whether it will ultimately be played in front of a man and his dog remains in the hands of the Safa appeal board.
Chiefs chairperson Kaizer Motaung said the court decision ”best serves the interest of football and promotes good governance of its administration”.
”We will now focus on the Safa appeal-board hearing,” he added. — Sapa