It was a meeting that threatened to tear the Premier Soccer League (PSL) apart as the two factions of South Africa’s professional league squared up over what one delegate called ”a legal, but immoral” bonus of R150-million that is due to be shared by five officials.
The issue, however, was seemingly too hot to handle and was diplomatically postponed for two weeks to another get-together when, it was diplomatically stated, ”financial matters will be discussed”.
The rumpus revolves around the R1,5-billion TV deal that the PSL has entered into with SuperSport over the next five years and the R30-million each earmarked for the five members of the PSL’s sponsorship committee — Trevor Phillips, Irvin Khoza, Kaizer Motaung, Peter Mancer and Mato Madlala — for the roles they played in helping to secure the massive largesse.
”Even before the meeting started the gloves were off and the proceedings threatened to get out of hand,” revealed one club delegate. ”It was a patently wise decision to postpone matters and try to find some common ground among those involved.”
The PSL inserted a clause in its constitution long before the TV deal that declares that officials who are responsible for securing sponsorship for the league are entitled to 10% of the relevant amount.
”But this was an ongoing negotiation with SuperSport and not one initiated by the sponsorship committee,” said one club delegate. ”In any case, it is highly questionable whether officials who are supposed to be serving the PSL in what is basically an honorary capacity should be entitled to siphon off millions that should go to promoting the game.”
In spite of the shock and amazement throughout the country since the disclosure of the R150-million bonus pay-out a month ago, the PSL has up to now done nothing to stop the bounty from being paid out.
But condemnation of the pay-out has been snowballing and Jomo Cosmos owner Jomo Sono and Cape Town Ajax MD John Comitis have expressed strong reservations over ”money that should benefit soccer” ending up with a handful of officials. — Sapa