Demoted Mvela League club PJ Stars lost an urgent high court action in Johannesburg on Friday seeking to restrain the Premier Soccer League (PSL) from continuing with games in what is effectively the second division.
But, if Stars’ intention had been to win the war, not the battle, it had the desired effect as the PSL, running out of time, had already called off the entire Mvela League programme for the weekend.
”We are gratified by the high court’s action to dismiss the urgent appeal,” said a PSL official, ”but we could not take the chance of losing the high court action — even though we were confident the verdict would go in our favour.”
PJ Stars’ complaint about the alleged illegality of their demotion, which was imposed by the league after it was ruled they had fielded improperly registered players, will now continue through standard court procedures.
”The PSL, in the meantime, will pursue with Mvela League fixtures as planned as from next week,” announced the league’s attorney, Zola Majavu. — Sapa