By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Kaizer Chiefs are appalled that the Premier Soccer League (PSL) intends taking the arbitration ruling on review at the high court even though the PSL is yet to make an official announcement.
Arbitrator Nazeer Cassim on Friday ruled that the games Chiefs failed to honour at home to Cape Town City on December 4 and away against Golden Arrows on December 8 amid an outbreak of Covid-19 at the club had to be played.
“Kaizer Chiefs is shocked and bewildered by the recent news reaching the club,” Chiefs said in a statement.
“Despite a lack of formal communication from the league, which one would expect, the club has been informed of the PSL executive committee’s resolution to review the arbitration award of advocate Nazeer Cassim SC, which was handed down on Friday.
“The arbitration award correctly decided that the interruption in the club’s performance for the two missed December fixtures was temporarily halted by vis major (that is an overwhelming, unanticipated, and unpreventable event) created by Omicron.
“Notwithstanding the fair outcome and a costs award to those affected by the organising of the two matches [the PSL, City and Arrows], it appears the league is dissatisfied with the outcome and intends to review it, with a view of setting aside the award in the high court.
“This unfortunate step has taken the club by surprise as in doing so the league is in breach of its own constitution and rules as well as SAFA statutes, which frown upon courts resolving football disputes.
“Chiefs will have no choice but to defend such a challenge as it is of the view that the arbitrator came to the lawful and reasonable conclusion that it would have been negligent if not reckless for the club to field a team for the two games, and that Kaizer Chiefs acted as a responsible employer in the circumstances.
“The matter shall soon be sub judice, and the club shall not give any further comment in this regard. We trust that the football-loving community will provide the club with the necessary respect and support required in attending to this matter.”
Chiefs Shocked by League’s plan to review arbitrator’s ruling https://t.co/NjgTYSPAqx#Amakhosi4Life
— Kaizer Chiefs (@KaizerChiefs) March 23, 2022
Meanwhile Cape Town City owner John Comitis expressed unhappiness with the decision to allow Kaizer Chiefs to play two of their missed DStv Premiership matches.
Speaking on Marawa Sports Worldwide, Comitis said: “I’m sitting here trying to relax on the weekend but turning out, this is a dark day for football in South Africa.
“It really is, I’m flabbergasted. What happened to the disciplinary committee, the PSL disciplinary committee?
“Here we have a club not arriving at a match, and we allow this thing to get to this point, because we didn’t act, and prosecution didn’t act and I and I’m very disappointed.
“I’m very disappointed for football, because smart lawyers and advocates that get involved, they come up with these positions, in terms of administration law, and all these things.
“But we’ve got football rules. What about the football rules that we all prescribed to?
“What are we worrying about DC’s and DRC’s, and dispute resolution chambers when we can bypass it all and go and jump the queue and go and get a decision made at an arbitration?”