Lamontville Golden Arrows have been slapped with a R50 000 suspended fine by the Premier Soccer League (PSL) disciplinary committee following crowd incidents at the recent PSL game that the Durban-based club lost 3-2 against Supersport United with nine men.
Referee Charl Theron red-carded two Arrows players after the team had led 2-1, with an imminent victory transformed into bitter, indignant defeat in the process.
Arrows’ R50 000 fine will be suspended for 12 months on condition the club is not found guilty of a similar offence during this period.
The disciplinary committee also fined star Arrows striker Mabuti Khanyeza R15 000, of which R10 000 is suspended for 12 months, on a charge of insulting the referee.
And, to add insult to financial injury, in a manner of speaking, Khanyeza has also been instructed to apologise to Theron within the next seven days.
”The offences were serious,” said a PSL official, ”no matter what the provocation, and an example had to be laid down to Arrows and other teams that this type of behaviour — both on and off the field — will not be tolerated.”
Arrows and Supersport are currently vying for one of the outstanding top-eight positions in the PSL and consequent qualification for next season’s Supa8 tournament. — Sapa