By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The ongoing matter between Kaizer Chiefs and the Premier Soccer League (PSL) over missed fixtures will go to court on 10 May.
The matter started in December after Chiefs failed to pitch for games against Golden Arrows and Cape Town City due to a reported Covid-19 outbreak within their squad.
In information that has now come to light, it appears that a key decision has been made to prevent a disruption and any delays to the end of the league season.
In short, the two missed matches will go ahead and be replayed even as the matter remains unresolved. Depending on the outcome of the legal proceedings, if it goes in favour of Chiefs, then the results of the two replayed matches will stand.
However, if the league is successful in its review application, the log will be adjusted to reflect the outcome “as if the matches had not been played”.
Meanwhile matter relating to the pricing of Kaizer Chiefs tickets upon the return of fans for their home matches has been clarified after an uproar from some sections of their fan base.
The tickets for other matches in the league are at R40, those for Chiefs’ home games have been pegged at R70 starting with Saturday’s game against SuperSport United at FNB.
Bertie Grobbelaar, the CEO of Stadium Management (SMSA) explains the reasoning behind the increase while highlighting that this weekend’s match will be run at a loss all the same.
“In the lead up to the new season we had extensive discussions with Chiefs as a club to ensure that a great fan experience and stadium experience,” he says.
“That entailed opening more gates and more access points and a new ticketing system being implemented.
“In addition to that the Covid-19 regulations meant a new layer of security check points and redesigning of access and it necessitated an increase for the club to cover all these additional costs.
“I can assure you that this weekend, the coming fixture is going to be run at a loss because of the implications of this.
“For an event like this you plan with 8000 spectators, 2000 of those are complimentary.
“So, from the income of tickets 6000 needs to cover all the costs and so this was a commercial and financial discussion.
“At R40, it will leave you with R240 000 to cover all the costs and is inclusive of JMPD, security, medical, the EMS requirements. That is not electricity for the floodlights, that’s not stadium staff and personnel.
“So, the ticket price of R40 is no longer viable and it was a joint-decision with the club,” explains Grobbelaar.
FNB Stadium has already matches with fans in recent months, but they fell under the auspices of CAF and SAFA with Mamelodi Sundowns playing their last two home matches in the Champions League at that venue.