/ 3 October 2012

PSL sets up task team to investigate hooliganism

Lerato Chabangu during the Absa Premiership match between Moroka Swallows and Mamelodi Sundowns.
Lerato Chabangu during the Absa Premiership match between Moroka Swallows and Mamelodi Sundowns.

The PSL said it had met with struggling premiership club Mamelodi Sundowns on Tuesday after the Pretoria side's supporters stormed the pitch following their 2-0 loss to Moroka Swallows in Dobsonville at the weekend.

"The PSL has expressed concern about the behaviour of football fans at fixtures in the last couple of weeks," the league said in a statement.

"Subsequently, the PSL appointed an internal security task team to look into the matter and come up with means to deal with crowd violence."

Sundowns fans, displeased with the team slipping to 14th position in the league standings, were baying for coach Johan Neeskens' blood at the weekend, but the situation was calmed down by the police, match officials, and Alex Shakoane, the club's supporters relations manager.

The PSL said it had come to an agreement with Sundowns that there was a need to "act swiftly" in order to curb the behaviour of a faction of the club's supporters.

Sundowns had requested assistance from the PSL to bring the culprits to book and the club intended pursuing criminal charges.

"The recent scenes at our stadiums have been of great concern to us," said acting PSL chief executive Ronnie Schloss.

"We have put together an internal team that will investigate the disturbing scenes."

Sundowns' senior legal manager, Yogesh Singh, said steps needed to be taken to avoid a repeat of Sunday's incident.

"It"s not in the interest of Sundowns, the PSL, nor football at large," Singh said. – Sapa